Silicon Valley

Chapter 25 AOL Fiasco and New Life

After completing the share exchange with Dell, Michael Dell said he was ready to take the company public.

Henry agrees very much. After Dell goes public, it will develop faster and help Henry more. In order to help Dell, Henry's company will promote Dell, and the specific work will be discussed by Michael Dell and Gilly Hurt. Henry then went to Netscape again and asked them to develop a feature that Henry liked very much - multi-tab website browsing!

Netscape browser can use multi-tab pages and open multiple websites without having to search from the taskbar, which is very convenient to use!

Henry's suggestion was unanimously approved by Netscape, and it was quickly convened to develop it.

"When AOL and Apple release the AL browser, you guys will add this new feature!" Henry ordered.

"Okay! It's time to hit the AL browser by surprise! This feature is really great!" Netscape CEO Jonathan Jackson laughed.

At that time, Netscape will add a collection function, a multi-tab website browsing function, and a fast web page loading technology (the speed of opening the browser has changed from the original 3 seconds response time to 1 second)! Netscape browser three punches, AL browser will definitely not feel good!

"While researching and developing technologies and new functions, don't forget to register patents. Even if the AL browser is released, we will kill it on patents!"

"Chairman, we understand, don't worry!" Jonathan Jackson nodded!

"Yeah." Henry nodded. He attached great importance to patents. The whole company knew this. Whenever there is any new technology or new function, patent registration is definitely a must!

...

On March 15, 1988, AOL and Apple launched the AL browser. The AL browser is simply a complete copy of the Netscape browser, but the interface has been slightly changed.

Henry did not say a word, and directly asked Netscape to take AOL and Apple to court.

Steve Case is a shady expert, throwing a thick pile of technical documents and related materials to refute and prove that he did not plagiarize. The courts and Netscape would have to spend a lot of time just researching this material! However, this lawsuit is obvious, Netscape will win! Netscape is not easy. They dispatched ten technicians and five lawyers, determined to win the lawsuit in the shortest time possible!

At the same time, the Netscape browser was updated online. Not only the response speed is much faster, but the collection and multi-tab pages are more popular among netizens!

The AL browser suddenly fell into a big somersault. Although it was promoted by AOL and Apple, users didn't like to use it at all, so they decided to remove it!

Because Apple's AL browser is installed, but there is no Netscape browser, sales have plummeted!

Now more and more people are connecting to the Internet, you don't have a good browser, who buys your computer?

Apple is simply miserable!

Microsoft launched their latest system within a few days. The system uses a lot of Apple system interfaces. Microsoft learns from others' strong points and takes the best of them. After the system was launched, it was very popular, and it extremely squeezed the living space of Apple computers! Apple's performance declined step by step, and its stock price fell again and again! ! !

Scully and Apple saw that Microsoft's new system was coming, and they suddenly repented, regretting that they agreed to Microsoft to use some of their system interface patents! Scully and Apple were brazen, disregarding the contract they signed with Microsoft, and took Microsoft to court, claiming that Microsoft infringed on Apple's patents!

But this lawsuit is a sure loser. Microsoft has a contract in hand, so I'm not afraid of how Apple will sue you! The reason why Apple wants to sue Microsoft is to carry out some public relations work and publicize to the outside world that Apple's operating system is the best, and Microsoft is infringing and pirating, so don't use it! But Apple did these things in vain, and still failed to change the status quo of Apple!

AOL launched the AL browser at the same time, their newly developed e-mail is also embedded in the AL browser. The fate of this email is the same as that of the AL browser, which is rarely used. And, without a doubt, AOL was so quick to roll out GUI email, and apparently didn't take the time to bypass the global online email patent!

Henry rudely asked Global Online to sue AOL!

Since its establishment, Global Online has almost knocked AOL to the ground! The names of these two companies are so similar and they are so tit-for-tat that newspapers and media are most pleased to see them fighting.

As soon as Global Online sued AOL in court, the newspapers and media started to publicize it!

"Global Online Sues AOL for Infringing Graphical Interface Email Patent!"

"Amen, 'Global' is abusing 'America' again!"

"AOL is a disgrace to America, a robber, a thief who only infringes on other companies' patents!!!"

AOL had two lawsuits in a row, and for a while, it became notorious!

If the AL browser works well, then it's ok. But compared with the Netscape browser, the AL browser is almost one in the sky and one in the ground. Just like this, AOL is still too embarrassed to plagiarize and infringe, you can't copy a little level?

Apple has been pitted by AOL. Every day, many Apple computer users complain and refuse to use AOL AL browser and email! A significant portion of Apple users even asked for returns. This return is the biggest return frenzy that Apple has encountered since its establishment. On average, hundreds of people come to Apple's door every day to ask for a return!

Some activists were so disappointed in Apple that they smashed Apple computers into pieces in front of Apple! ! !

Apple has a lot to say, but because Apple signed an agreement with AOL, 20% of the shares are not for nothing. Apple computers must install the AL browser and help it promote it!

Apple stole chicken without losing rice, crying to death. Apple stock price has dropped from $55 per share to $35!

An Apple employee suggested to Scully: "Since users need Netscape, and we can't breach the contract. Let's just install both browsers! Our contract with AOL only states that we will help them. Promotes browsers, but doesn't say you can't install other companies' browsers..."

Scully's eyes lit up and thought about it, this is also a way that is not a solution!

"Okay, just do it!" Scully decided and said!

In order to appease Apple computer users, Apple can come up with this method, which is amazing enough!

Scully then informed Steve Case of Apple's decision.

Steve Case was furious when he heard it! But he quickly calmed down because he knew that throwing a tantrum would definitely not help. Steve Case hid in his office for a night thinking about it, and the next day he held a meeting, first announcing Apple's decision, then talking about the current state of the company, and finally asking everyone about the solution.

Everyone is very angry that Apple is stepping on two boats, and some company executives even proposed to sue Apple for breach of contract!

However, it was rejected by Steve Case.

AOL can only compete with Nicholas Group by holding Apple's thigh. Steve Case is a smart man, and he is also very patient, and it is impossible to do things that destroy the city walls.

As for the solution, everyone talked a lot and talked a lot, but no one was good.

Steve Case sat in his chair and listened silently, with no expression on his face. After everyone finished speaking, he opened his mouth and said, "AOL is an online service at its core. This time, we were really impatient, and we launched a browser very hastily, resulting in a fiasco! However, as long as we keep doing it, I believe that there will always be One day, the AL browser will triumph!!!"

Steve Case still didn't mean to give up the browser. He paused and explained his philosophy to everyone: "Although we lost this time, I ended an experience. That is, our browser needs technical accumulation. And innovation, what the Netscape browser can do, we can do, the Netscape browser can't do, we can do it too! I have nothing, but I have something new! I hope that the next version of the AL browser can surpass Netscape Browser!!!"

clap clap clap! ! !

Infected by Steve Case's words, everyone's confidence increased greatly, and they couldn't help applauding.

"However, before our browser wins, we face a difficult choice at AOL. Should we continue to fight the global online battle, or transform?" Steve Case said in a low voice.

After Steve Case finished speaking, the atmosphere in the office seemed very heavy! All did not speak.

Steve Case glanced at everyone from left to right, but said confidently: "Global Online has done a good job in the three areas of e-mail, entertainment information and news and current affairs. If we compete with AOL, we will It is indeed difficult. However, I think we still have a chance to catch up with Global Online!" Steve paused, and then said, "The main purpose of users using the Internet is for business communication, maybe you did not realize that Global Online is in the Very little has been done financially, so this is a breaking point, this is an opportunity, an opportunity for us to re-emerge at AOL!!!”

When Steve said the last, his voice was enthusiastic and full of fighting spirit!

"That's right!"

"We AOL will definitely rise again!!!"

The people present were all excited. Apparently, Steve Case showed them the way!

...

AOL suddenly acquired a New York-based financial newspaper when it was in trouble at home and abroad, which was a bit confusing. Is AOL Crazy? Stupid to fight a lawsuit? To buy a financial newspaper?

Henry was also confused by AOL's move and didn't understand what it was going to do?

But it didn't take long for Henry to know why.

On April 1, AOL held a press conference to announce: "AOL joins hands with Sequoia Capital to create the most authoritative and in-depth online information service website - AOL!!!!"

Shortly thereafter, AOL's business actually began to grow!

Henry was stunned when he saw this: Could AOL really be an unbeatable Xiaoqiang? (Please help to vote...)

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