American History 1988
Chapter 265 - 256: World Wide Web

Chapter 265: Chapter 256: World Wide Web

"Instant messaging software similar to Teams? A customized version?" Dean Price raised his gaze, looking directly at Charles.

"That’s right, NCR needs such software installed on bank computers.

You know, our clients are very special, the software must be customized specifically for them.

Then security, usability, compatibility with the NCR system... and so on, all must meet our requirements."

Charles spoke confidently, certain that Dean wouldn’t turn down the deal.

Because this was an order that came to them, and strictly speaking, NCR was a client of Byte Company.

Shouldn’t one always meet their clients’ requests?"

"Oh yes, NCR can buy out this software for a one-time payment, our asking price is 5 million US Dollars!"

After stating the price, Charles picked up his glass and took a very reserved sip of champagne.

He was waiting for Dean’s enthusiastic response, even gratitude.

Without a doubt, it was a large order, for both NCR and Byte Company alike.

I am your client, dear billionaire sir, Charles’s mouth curved into a smile.

"Sorry Charles, did you just say a buyout?"

Unexpectedly, Dean was not as enthusiastic as Charles had imagined.

"Yes, this is a customized version, our clients only accept software that comes pre-installed on NCR computers."

To prevent Dean from pitching Teams to him, Charles had to explain upfront.

Computers in the banking system rarely use third-party software.

It is a closed environment, from the computers to the operating systems, down to the software; everything is customized specially.

In Charles’s view, without NCR, Byte might not even be able to enter the banking system.

"OK, I understand," Dean nodded but didn’t immediately agree.

On the contrary, he had a different idea about the deal.

"Here’s a proposition, Charles—Byte can customize instant messaging software specifically for NCR.

We can also meet all the requirements you propose, but we switch to a different way of collaboration."

"A different way?" Charles asked back, puzzled, as this wasn’t part of his plan.

"That’s right, Byte Company would still provide you with the customized software, but we would charge based on the sales volume of NCR computers.

For example, for every computer sold, Byte Company would collect 125 US Dollars as royalties, a definite bargain."

Compared to the standard version of Teams priced at 149 US Dollars, the customized version needed extra manpower for development yet was cheaper.

Dean’s offer was indeed full of sincerity; under normal circumstances, the price for a customized version should be higher.

But the banking system was so closed that Dean was willing to reduce his own profits to accumulate experience in developing for these sectors.

As long as he got this order and gained recognition within the banking systems, Byte might be able to conduct this business on its own in the future.

Of course, that wasn’t the ultimate goal. What Dean really cared about was the software’s intellectual property rights.

As expected, upon hearing the idea of royalties based on sales, Charles instinctively asked,

"What about the intellectual property rights? NCR might make some improvements."

"The rights would still belong to Byte Company, but rest assured, our after-sales service is renowned across the US.

This is Byte’s trademark, and we won’t give away what gives us the edge in competitiveness."

Dean sipped his wine but kept a watchful eye on Charles.

"Dean, is our offer not satisfying for you? Maybe..." Charles hinted with a look, "we could discuss it further?"

"No, it’s not about the price," Dean shook his head, "This is Byte Company’s business philosophy; I have no intention of breaking it."

Dean might make concessions on price, but that certainly didn’t include intellectual property rights.

Charles’s gaze shifted, and then he leaned in and whispered.

"Dean, do you remember? Once during a certain summer, you said you owed me a favor..."

"Yes!" Dean’s eyes narrowed slightly, "But Charles, have you heard this saying?"

"What?" Charles waited quietly for his reply.

"We repay what we owe, nothing more.

We are businessmen, and our creed is equivalent exchange!"

Everyone was smart; there was no need for tricks and deceit.

With both parties aware of their bargaining chips, the only thing that could keep the deal going was a fair exchange.

The favor from that past summer, was it worth Dean using Byte’s software intellectual property to settle it?

The answer was clear to everyone, and in Dean’s view, Charles shouldn’t even have made such a proposal!

"Dean," Charles’s facial expression turned uneasy, "so my past favor won’t be reciprocated at all?"

"No, Mr. Charles," Dean looked at him seriously.

"The offer I just made for NCR, at 125 US Dollars, is in fact a repayment of that favor.

I am quite certain that the value of the discount provided is enough to settle the favor I owed from that summer!"

Charles’s lips twitched and then he averted his gaze, "Maybe I shouldn’t have done you that favor."

Dean smiled lightly, "Go back and tell AT&T that nobody can take what doesn’t belong to them from Byte.

The past patent litigation didn’t work, and now, neither will the cunning circumvention tactics!"

Charles trembled slightly; he wanted to deny it.

But Dean’s piercing gaze made him instinctively close his mouth.

It was only then that Charles remembered the man standing before him was no longer the student he could manipulate at will.

He was Dean Price, the founder of Byte Company with a net worth of 2 billion US dollars, ranked 35th among the Forbes 400 and a super billionaire!

Finally seeing the reality, at that moment, Charles also saw Dean raising his glass towards him from across the room.

Before he could react, Dean had already emptied the red wine in his glass. Then he turned and left without any hesitation or drag.

A twinge of regret suddenly seized Charles. Perhaps he shouldn’t have boasted at AT&T’s senior management and taken this matter on himself.

He was too eager to flaunt his presence at AT&T.

He had underestimated Dean too, who was no longer the poor student who could be dispatched with just 60,000 US dollars.

Now Charles had not only failed his mission but also lost the friendship of a super billionaire worth 2 billion US dollars.

This deal had brought him no return at all!

As Dean turned and left, he had already resumed smiling and started mingling with Ohio’s newly appointed Governor, George Voinovich.

A Charles was not important to him, and Byte Company wasn’t lacking NCR’s orders.

When Charles stuck to his guns about wanting the rights to customized software, Dean had been wary.

This condition had to be carefully considered during negotiations, as it could affect the core interests of the company.

For instance, if NCR obtained the rights to the custom software, they could do anything with it.

They could sell the software to someone else, or develop it further, then repackage it as an NCR product.

But a greater danger was NCR selling the rights of this instant messaging software to others, like AT&T.

Yes, after a few transfers of ownership, Byte Company’s old nemesis AT&T would end up controlling all rights to this instant messaging software.

AT&T could simply change its appearance and then use it to compete with Byte Company.

Byte Company was too profitable, its market value too tempting, even for a behemoth like AT&T to resist the lure.

So it was a trap, baited with a large order and the leverage of personal connections.

With both these strategies, they waited for Byte Company to hand over its golden goose willingly.

Now Dean finally had a deeper understanding of Durell’s once-exclaimed lament.

In the entrepreneurship process, one always has to deal with an endless array of brazen challenges.

Facing troubles like an automatic pitching machine, you need to know what to dodge and when to swing the bat.

...

"Is this the World Wide Web?"

"It seems to look like the client from American Internet?"

"No, they’re more intuitive, and simpler.

Look at these windows, they have perfectly adapted to the system."

Watching Simon and John engaging excitedly in a discussion around the computer in front of them,

Dean couldn’t help but interrupt them, "Alright guys, the point isn’t the World Wide Web software, it’s the web pages in the windows."

"Web pages?" Simon and John only then noticed that the content displayed by the software was very different from the BBS bulletin boards they were used to.

John scrolled the mouse, "They seem richer than monotone text."

"Hmm," Dean nodded, "Now use your mouse and click on those blue characters."

"Like this?" John found a string of blue words and clicked on them with a decisive motion.

Ding, the webpage switched, and a brand new page unfolded before them.

"Oh! God!" John and Simon clasped their heads, looking incredulously at the screen.

On it was a colorful picture of a blonde woman in a short skirt.

"How did this happen?" John asked Dean in disbelief, challenging what he knew to be true.

As the chief operating officer of Price’s List, John was by now very familiar with the basics of websites.

Take American Internet as an example, to access Price’s List, one must go through American Internet’s client.

You need to log in to the client first, then access Price’s List from a specific area.

And Price’s List, as it was, mostly presented itself in text.

It had no rich and colorful displays, and certainly no images like this.

Price’s List was more like an advertising forum without images, before.

And it was complicated to operate, with many actions still requiring command inputs to complete.

So could the original American Internet insert images into web pages?

Yes, but the complex process deterred most people.

To insert an image on American Internet, it first had to be scanned into the server.

Then, after getting approval from American Internet and backend operations, could the image be inserted.

Because of these factors, other than official functions of American Internet, almost no other BBS had images.

But now, with just a few mouse clicks, John had brought up a colorful picture—it was magical!

"John, do you see? To browse these web pages, you don’t even need to input commands on the keyboard.

You completed its access with your mouse, everything is so simple and easy to use!"

Upon Dean’s reminder, John discovered the wonders of it all once more.

"Dean, is this what you meant by the future of Price’s List?"

"Exactly, this is the World Wide Web, but the future will be even more fascinating!"