Of course, there are more than three ISP service providers in the U.S. market, and SBC and Sprint also offer ISP services. While there are AOL and Compuserve, which is number two, there is also a third-ranked company, Prodigy, which is not there.

Prodigy wasn't slow to react, so it didn't show up. Rather, it is, in fact, a traditional ally of the SBC. SBC has always held more than 30% of Prodigy's shares, and after the development of broadband technology, it directly acquired Prodigy in full.

In other words, part of Hoffman's will must have come from Prodigy, and his attitude will naturally affect Prodigy.

However, since Hoffman did not reach an agreement with Zhou Shuo, it is natural that Prodigy's third-place market share in the United States will be shaky.

A new alliance, Sprint, AOL and Compuserve, will carve up market share of the SBC and Prodigy alliance.

SBC and Prodigy are not stupid, and Hoffman is not IQ offline, but believes that he has the resources that Zhou Shuo must compromise. Their self-confidence is built on SBC's largest telephone network in the United States.

In 1995, the United States had a population of 250 million and 25 million Internet users, and the SBC's telephone network covered almost half of the U.S. region and population. If Six-Ear IM wants to monopolize the network instant messaging market, it can't avoid the support of SBC.

It's like playing chess, before launching the real killer move. You need to hide your intentions. Send all the pieces that form the lore to the key positions. It has already been launched, and it is necessary to general. And the opponent cannot be given a chance to escape and counterattack.

If Zhou Shuo can't seize the opportunity, let the six-ear IM rise in the shortest possible time. Inevitably, there will be people who will take a fancy to this market and use the support of SBC to squeeze in. And without a monopoly like Penguin, there will be no way to talk about the super-profits of instant messaging software.

At its peak, ICQ used to be as bloated and advertised as today's penguins, but it was quickly abandoned when it was acquired by AOL. Is AOL more qualified and conscientious? Not. It's because Microsoft's MSN is in hot pursuit. Because of its short-sighted strategy, ICQ completely lost the opportunity to dominate the instant messaging software market.

Of course, Zhou Shuo can't make such a mistake, so he must make SBC realize that he is not a target to be slaughtered, but has the ability to threaten them.

Otherwise, SBCs will not easily give up their ambitions to break into the ISP service market.

"Guys. Listen to me. Zhou Shuo blinked his eyes and said mysteriously: "I have a proposal to make full use of this opportunity to take our career to the next level." In order to cope with the pressure on the SBC side, the four of us should form an alliance. ”

"Alliance? For SBC? Orff frowned and said, "This is a very dangerous behavior, and the SBC will not allow an alliance to exist that poses a threat to him." The consequence of provoking the SBC, it may be that he will stop working with us. ”

"No, President Orff, you're mistaken. This is not a coalition against the SBC. Zhou Shuo hurriedly explained: "It is an alliance that implements the standard of compression algorithms. ”

Of course, Zhou Shuo would not put such a thing as fighting SBC on the table, even if it was against Prodigy. Such a purposeful alliance is established, not to mention the reaction of the SBC, and even an antitrust investigation will be launched in minutes.

He explains: "My compression algorithm is used in addition to the modem. It can be used on other network devices as well. For example, the network switch of the digital network can also achieve the advantage of doubling the transmission speed. ”

"Once the 56Kbps network speed is widely promoted and applied, the current backbone network bandwidth will definitely be crowded. In terms of the barrel principle. This will make the user's internet speed the same as before, and the expected speed will only be reached during off-peak hours. ”

Sprint's Malcolm said, "You're looking to revamp the phone company's transmission network as well? That's certainly something we will do at Sprint Telecom. Double the speed. And you don't need to add too much investment, which is a very good thing. ”

"But the SBC is not going to do this kind of transformation. They don't have my patent grant. Zhou Shuo then said: "This is unfair to the users of the SBC telephone network. ”

"So I'm proposing that the new 56K subscribers should be given priority access to the Sprint phone network, and that users should have the right to know."

The SBC business department has been in a mess for the past two days.

In 1995, there were 25 million Internet users in the United States out of a population of 250 million, and these people affected family, relatives and friends, covering almost half of the telephone users in the United States.

Since Sprint Telecom, AOL, and Compuserve announced the formation of an alliance to promote the 56Kbps network standard, users have been calling, writing, and even coming directly to the door to ask if the SBC is not compatible with the 56Kbps transmission technology in the standard, as they said.

After reacting to the problem layer after layer, the top management of the SBC also made a mistake. Speaking of compatibility, what is compatible with the patent that does not have a compression algorithm? Saying that it is not compatible, he can imagine the collapse trend of SBC telephone business after the popularization of 56Kbps network technology.

For SBC, they never imagined that with the support of Bell Labs, they would be squeezed out of the phone market one day. And all thanks to the damn cyber department......

As long as the technology is backward, a generation of hegemons can be ended, which is the cruelty of the Internet age. Motorola, the creator of wireless communications, was defeated by the military-industrial enterprise Nokia, and then Nokia was dragged down by Microsoft in front of Android. This kind of technical advantage can be quickly transformed into an industrial advantage, which is not only the cruelty of the Internet era, but also the charm of the Internet era.

The problems at the grassroots level were reflected layer by layer, and the pressure fell on Hoffman's shoulders layer by layer.

He hung up the phone with a pale face and collapsed on the couch in a dejected manner. The president of SBC even called him directly just now, if he can't get the patent authorization for the compression algorithm, what awaits him is not as easy as rolling up the cover and getting out. With the cleanliness of his butt, I'm afraid he's really going to sit in prison.

Yes, he was sure that Zhou Shuo, who was forced to force, would compromise with him. But is it he who consumes the most energy last, or is he unlucky first? Hoffman didn't know the bottom of his mind about this question.

To make him sacrifice himself for the benefit of the company, he Hoffman does not have such a lofty ideological realm.

"Go to the Courtyard by Marriott." Hoffman changed his costume slightly, went out of the back door of the company, flagged down a taxi, and rode away.

"Mr. Hoffman?" Zhou Shuo was slightly surprised, then stretched out his hand with a bright smile and said, "It's been a long time, how are you doing?" ”

Hoffman tugged at the corners of his mouth slightly, he hadn't slept well for a whole week, and he had the darkest days of his life, the answer was, of course-

"It couldn't be better!" With the warmest smile, Hoffman held Zhou Shuo's hand tightly and said, "This is all thanks to your care, thank you very much!" ”

"Mr. Hoffman is my friend, and it is right for a friend to care about a friend." Zhou Shuo pretended not to hear the meaning of his words, smiled slightly, and let him into the office of his suite.

"Mr. Hoffman is here this time, I wonder if there is anything I can help with?" Zhou Shuo poured two cups of coffee for Hoffman and himself, sat back in his seat and asked.

Hoffman was not in the mood to drink coffee at this time, so he calmed down and said: "Mr. Zhou will definitely be able to help in this matter, that is, about the patent of the compression algorithm." SBC hopes to work with you to promote this technology. ”

"Well, hehe." Zhou Shuo picked up the coffee cup, took a sip slowly, and saw that Hoffman was a little anxious, so he said: "I'm very sorry, I have granted the patent exclusively to the alliance of Sprint, AOL and Compuserve. As you may know, these three companies and I will set up a joint venture to produce this compression algorithm chip. Under our agreement, any additional investment in the joint venture must be subject to the full approval of the Board of Directors. ”

Of course, the SBC was aware of this situation, but Hoffman also came prepared, he smiled slightly, and said generously: "The patent license is just an agreement, you can completely ignore it." All liquidated damages can be paid by SBC. ”

"I'm sorry, it can't be." Zhou Shuo flatly refused: "This will be a devastating blow to my business reputation......"

Hoffman hurriedly interrupted Zhou Shuo's words and said sincerely: "SBC will also compensate you for the loss of this part, and will obtain the understanding of these three companies for you." ”

When Zhou Shuo heard his words, he couldn't help but secretly marvel at SBC's courage. The so-called understanding of the three companies is, to put it bluntly, to show real money, even the market, and technology in exchange for their concessions in this matter.

He spread his hands and said helplessly: "Please forgive me, I will continue to develop the Internet industry in the United States in the future, even if the three alliances can agree to your request, my reputation will be ruined in the industry, who will dare to cooperate with me in the future?" ”

"So, it's impossible for you to work with the SBC?" Hoffman asked, a little desperate.

"Actually, it's not like there's no way to ......" (to be continued......