Time flies quickly, and in the blink of an eye, in December, Microsoft released IE2.0, and it took only more than 3 months from the release time of IE1.0.

Obviously, there are lessons from IE1.0, IE2.0 is much better, and the gap with extraordinary browsers is narrowing.

The gap between IE2.0 and Extraordinary Browser is currently about half a year.

This is a very big improvement, the gap between IE1.0 and Extraordinary Browser is one and a half years, and IE2.0 is half a year.

The progress of IE2.0 was expected by Xu Qing, who never thought of suppressing IE with technology.

Service, details, and channels are what Xu Qing pays attention to.

Now Xu Qing is paying attention to the market reaction of IE2.0.

Usually with Microsoft's influence, coupled with the uniqueness of the Internet product, you can see how the market reaction to the product is a few days after the product is released.

A few days later, the market reaction to IE2.0 is already obvious.

In 3 words, it is very general.

Xu Qing has read a lot of comments about IE2.0 on the Internet, TV, newspapers and other information channels.

Most people's ratings are very average, and they don't compare to extraordinary browsers.

Some people even scolded Microsoft, which has launched the second version of IE browser, why is it so far behind the extraordinary browser in all aspects.

Microsoft can't say that although the technology of computer browsers is not very advanced, it is not half a year to develop a browser of the same level as Extraordinary Browser.

Extraordinary Browser has been around for more than a year, and since its launch, it has been the world's number one computer browser.

In terms of technology, there is a deep accumulation of patents.

Microsoft found that they wanted to develop a browser on the same level as Viva Browser, and several important technologies were patented by Viva.

Buying a patent from Extraordinary Inc.? Definitely won't say yes.

Then we can only bypass Extraordinary and develop alternatives to those technologies on our own.

But it will take time, and they are optimistic that by the time IE4.0 is launched, the technical aspects should reach the level of extraordinary browsers, which will take about a year.

The IE2.0 market response was very average, which made Bill Gates very irritable.

At first, Bill Gates didn't pay attention to computer browsers, thinking that Microsoft could control the Internet with a computer operating system.

But with the reminder of his advisor and colleagues, and he also quickly saw the role of computer browsers, he finally realized the importance of computer browsers.

According to Microsoft's research, computer browsers have become the first entry point for users to browse the Internet.

The vast majority of users browse the Internet through a computer browser.

The benefits for companies with computer browsers are obvious, and they can do a lot of business through them.

For example, you can get a huge amount of traffic if you put your own Internet products in a prominent place on the home page of your browser.

But now most of this benefit is taken up by Extraordinary Browser, which currently has a market share of more than 92%, according to Microsoft statistics.

What a terrifying market share!

Few Internet products have such a high market share in their field, and it's remarkable to reach 60%, let alone 92%.

You must know that in95, which swept everything, only occupies about 48% of the market share in the field of computer operating systems.

At present, IE1.0 and IE2.0 together occupy about 3% of the market share.

This market share is a shame for Microsoft!

Any of Microsoft's Internet products occupies at least 20% of the market share.

So when Bill Gates saw the market performance of IE2.0 and heard the engineers say that it would take about a year to develop a browser of the same level as Extraordinary Browser, he was very angry.

But what's the use of being angry, it can't make IE's market performance better, and it can't make IE's R&D progress faster.

Bill Gates remembered his name in the IT world over the years: the acquisition of maniacs.

Over the years, when Bill Gates has his eye on a certain product, he first looks for the company of this product to see if it can be acquired.

It would be best if it could be acquired, saving Microsoft the time and resources to develop products, and it would also have one less strong competitor.

If you can't buy it, then imitate it and launch a product like it.

In the case of the same level of the product, or even exceeding, with Microsoft's strong brand influence, publicity ability, and channel ability, it is not difficult for the product launched by Microsoft to become the first place.

Bill Gates is pondering the feasibility of acquiring Extraordinary Corporation.

According to the latest situation, the market value of Extraordinary Company is $6.2 billion, which is about 13% of Microsoft's market capitalization.

So a wholly-owned acquisition of Extraordinary is unlikely, and Microsoft can't come up with so much money to acquire it, and it doesn't need to.

Shareholding, and then technology exchange? This scheme is relatively feasible.

Microsoft could come up with hundreds of millions of dollars, or some Microsoft shares, as a condition for taking a stake in Extraordinary Company.

In fact, Bill Gates knows that even if IE is launched at the same level as Extraordinary Browser, it will be very difficult to exceed the market share.

Because the strength of Future Group, the parent company of Extraordinary Company, is getting closer and closer to Microsoft in the Internet.

The Future Group will certainly not watch Extraordinary Browser be overtaken by IE, and Bill Gates always has a feeling that the Future Group has not yet amplified its moves.

When Microsoft thinks it will launch IE, which is on the same level as Extraordinary Browser, the future group is likely to amplify its moves.

This is not his pure feeling, in the past few months, the future group has been very active in the IT circle, contacting many computer manufacturers, software manufacturers, and sellers.

And he also investigated that the Future Group is developing a blockbuster product that can be combined with computer browsers.

Bill Gates did not investigate what the specific product was, but it can be determined that it is true information.

Therefore, Bill Gates invested in Extraordinary Company, not only for Extraordinary Browser, but also for the potential of Future Group and Extraordinary Company.

First invested in Extraordinary Company, and then slowly planned to invest in Future Group.

If both can be achieved, Microsoft will not only have one less strong competitor, but will also have access to some of the technology of the Future Group, and may even turn the Future Group into a subsidiary of Microsoft.

But, is Xu Qing an idiot? Will he agree to his request for shares?

Bill Gates doesn't have much confidence.

Xu Qing is certainly not an idiot, otherwise it would not have been possible to reach a net worth of $56 billion in a few years, at the age of about 20.

But, you have to give it a try.

Bill Gates immediately asked his secretary to contact Xu Qing's secretary and make an appointment to meet.

After a while, the secretary sent feedback on the results, and Xu Qing agreed to meet at 10 a.m. three days later.

On the other side, Xu Qing was a little puzzled why Bill Gates suddenly wanted to meet him.

Now that the two sides are fighting because of the computer browser, what are they doing when they meet? Fighting? Xu Qing thought nonsensically.

If you don't understand, you don't want to, anyway, you'll know when you meet, so you can't change everything.