James and Farrell ran out under the pretext of going to the toilet, and Farrell nervously asked, "Head, what should I do?" ”

James sighed, he was a manager, a manager, a businessman, but not a spy. The only way he can think of it is to do business, buy high and sell low, and do more, which is somewhat beyond the scope of Microsoft's salary.

He had no choice but to say in frustration: "Let's follow the normal procedure first, let's take a step at a time." ”

Farrell shook his head and sighed, and said listlessly, "That's it." ”

"James, Farrell, you're here, let me find it!" Jessica walked over.

James regrouped and asked, "Jessica, what's the result of the API test?" ”

Jessica stroked the hair around her ears and smiled: "It's not bad, although it's not perfect, but it's definitely qualified." ”

James nodded and said, "Okay, just what we said last night doesn't exist, and then within a week, the two of you will write me a test report, and I will negotiate with Zhou on this basis." ”

"It's good."

"No problem."

Jessica and Farrell agreed.

When the three of them returned to the computer room, Zhou Shuo and the students had calmed down. They greeted the three of them with a smile, and even though they were no longer needed to work, they were still busy in front of the computer.

In the busy time, the golden autumn of October is quietly coming, and Microsoft's software testing work is gradually coming to an end.

James carefully looked through the test documents of the ERP software, making sure not to miss a single detail.

Until he read the whole document, he glanced at Farrell and Jessica, nodded slightly, and said to Zhou Shuo opposite: "Overall, this ERP software meets our requirements, and Microsoft hopes to be able to buy all the copyrights of it, and the purchase price is $1.2 million." ”

$1.2 million was a lot of money in 1994. Of course, this is insignificant in terms of the social benefits that a good ERP software can produce. Just as a fiction writer can't get paid for selling a book, it's just a 10% royalty at most. The distributor's production, channels, promotion, publicity, sales and after-sales service are all constantly to share profits.

This is especially true in the software industry. Professional business software such as ERP has higher requirements for technical support. Similarly, without Microsoft's distribution channels and promotion efforts, even if it is really good, I am afraid that not only will it not be able to sell at a price, but it will not even be able to sell at all. This is also the reason why Zhou Shuo still chooses them even if Microsoft has a bad record in intellectual property rights in the future.

Not to mention $1.2 million, as long as the reputation of Chinese software can be broken, Microsoft is willing to ask for 100,000 yuan.

This is indeed unpleasant, but this is the first step that Chinese software must go through to enter the world.

Zhou Shuo was silent for a moment, then nodded and agreed: "One million and two hundred thousand dollars, I can agree." But I have a proposal that I hope Microsoft will consider. ”

James let out a curious "oh" and asked, "What is the proposal, please say." ”

Zhou Shuo coughed and said, "I hope that we can become Microsoft's software outsourcers." ”

"Outsourcer?" James looked at Zhou Shuo in surprise, software outsourcing is not a strange concept, with the development of the American economy, the cost of human resources is gradually rising, the software industry as an intellectual and labor-intensive industry, labor cost is its main development cost.

In the 80s, the software industry in the United States began to outsource non-core operations internationally. Capital is characterized by the flow of capital to lower costs, and in the process of transferring the software outsourcing industry, the most benefited is the well-known Indian software industry. In the early 90s, China's software outsourcing industry was almost influential, at the level of three or five people and two or three guns.

James was embarrassed and said: "This, Microsoft has no plan to outsource software for the time being......"

Zhou Shuo waved his hand and said, "It's okay, isn't it okay for Microsoft to set up a plan to outsource software?" ”

"Huh?" James looked at Zhou Shuo dumbfounded, is this a modern interpretation of a Chinese idiom?

Under Zhou Shuo's arrogant request, he even said a little embarrassed: "This is impossible, Microsoft's work skills are very high, and there are enough manpower, there is no need for this." ”

Zhou Shuo took his laptop from the side, opened the screen and launched a software and said, "I have a different opinion on this. I know that Mark Anderson, the founder of Mosaic's hugely successful browser last year, is working on a new browser software. ”

Zhou Shuo paused, saw James' nod of approval, and then said: "I remember he once said that 'in the light of the Internet, the operating system is nothing more than a set of buggy device drives'. If the ambitious Mark Anderson succeeds, I'm afraid it's likely that he will continue to develop a browser-based operating system, are you confident that you can compete with them? ”

Zhou Shuo pushed the notebook in front of James and said, "I have a plan that can help Microsoft win the competition with them." ”

James looked at the computer screen, which was covered by a web browser-like interface, and asked curiously, "Is this the web browser you developed?" It is somewhat similar to the client side of ERP software. But, Zhou, where do you get the confidence that you can be more popular than Mosaic? ”

"Here." Zhou Shuo pointed to the top of the screen and said, "Please Mr. James move the mouse here to take a look." ”

James moved the mouse to the top of the screen, and a drop-down bar popped up from above. He moved the mouse to the column, and the icons appeared as the mouse passed, and he asked, "What is this column for?" ”

Zhou Shuo explained: "This is a communication software written using the peer-to-peer network technology in the ERP software, and I took it out and the browser of the ERP software separately to make this software. In addition to being able to browse the network normally, the biggest feature is that it can carry out point-to-point network communication, and the software server only needs to record the logical topology of the account, and does not need to forward the communication data, which can greatly reduce the load pressure of network communication on the server. ”

Farrell's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he couldn't help but exclaim: "I see, that's why the stress test load of your server-side software is so small!" ”

Zhou Shuo smiled and nodded slightly, looked at James and said: "This function can greatly increase the viscosity of the browser to the user, and Mosaic browser will never be its opponent." What do you think? I can take the peer-to-peer communication technology and Microsoft outsource the browser software to us, or I can set up a joint venture with us to operate the browser software. ”

James was overjoyed, and without waiting for Zhou Shuo to finish speaking, he hurriedly said: "Outsource, I'm sure Microsoft will definitely outsource the browser software to you!" ”

He was shocked beyond measure, and Zhou Shuo once again showed him his genius insight. He found a solution to the instability of the operating system; He discovered the user's need for keyboard comfort; He found the key to the combination of modern enterprise and software management; Now he has discovered a fundamental need in the online world that has been neglected - instant messaging!

This is like a layer of window paper, which has nothing to do with technical issues, but whether people's minds are emancipated or not. In the past, the Internet was a postman, it was an exhibition hall, and then suddenly one day the telephone was born! What is the prospect of instant messaging technology, which is the phone in the network? James is all too clear as a member of Microsoft.

In the early days of the internet, the need for this discovery was endless and ubiquitous. How many people have created a wealth myth because of this, maybe a teenage boy living in the attic of a middle-class American family will suddenly become a millionaire because of such a flash of inspiration. Or maybe because of a prank that uploaded a photo of the school flower on the Internet, another Bill Gates was born......

That's the magic of creativity, and when you first see it, you know it's amazing!

Zhou Shuo shrugged his shoulders and said, "Okay, but in this case, Microsoft will have to pay me royalties......"

"Patents?!" James looked at Zhou Shuo inexplicably, this was not the word he wanted to hear.

"That's right, patents." Zhou Shuo looked at James innocently, and snickered in his heart: "77 technologies, such as the technology of transmitting instant communication through the Internet and other digital networks, as well as the technology of online monitoring on the Internet, have been filed in the United States and have entered the patent protection period. ”

James said frustratedly: "In this case, then I must fully communicate with Microsoft headquarters before I can give you an answer......"

Zhou Shuo smiled slightly and said calmly: "Then I will wait for Mr. James's good news." ”

James wiped the sweat from his head, thinking that this great joy and sorrow was too heavy for his heart. Next time, for the sake of his life, let someone else negotiate with him.

He took a deep breath and turned the subject back to frustration: "Let's talk about the acquisition of ERP software first, if there is no opinion on the $1.2 million bid, we can sign the agreement now." Of course, as a joint agreement, Microsoft hopes that the OEM of ergonomic keyboards can also be put into production as soon as possible. ”

"No problem, then sign it now." Obviously suffered a loss in price, but Zhou Shuo smiled like a winner.

ERP software is a stepping stone that knocks on the door of Microsoft. And what Zhou Shuo has to do is to replace it with Netscape. Compared with Netscape Communications companies that will go public in the future, browsers with integrated instant messaging functions are more powerful, more convenient, and have a broader future.

Since Netscape Communications was able to make $2.7 billion in a minute in 1995, why can't I? Until then, it's worth it.