America's No. 1 financial conglomerate

Chapter 301 Google Connect

When it comes to the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, American journalists are in no way inferior to their British counterparts, who are often referred to as the "uncrowned kings."

The speed at which these reporters changed their attitudes was so fast that readers might wonder if they had read a fake newspaper the day before.

The day before, the entire American media was still raving about Microsoft's MSN, and newspapers were filled with praise for MSN and Bill Gates.

MSN's meteoric rise! Instant messaging will reshape the social landscape.

Bill Gates' new trump card: MSN may plunge Google into its biggest crisis since its founding.

Even commentators who are usually biased against Microsoft wrote in their articles that "the emergence of MSN was like a shot in the arm for the stagnant social networking field. The emergence of IcQ is enough to make all social products pale in comparison."

Even readers who read these reports commented, "Microsoft is still the same tech giant it always was."

Many people have downloaded MSN, ready to experience this revolutionary social tool.

That very evening, people left comments on the forum, all of them mocking Google.

"Google is likely to suffer this time; it's hard to say whether it can withstand Microsoft's attack."

"Google CEO Hamilton is probably pacing anxiously in his office right now, isn't he?"

But no one expected that just one day later, the public opinion field would undergo a stunning reversal. The speed of the change was comparable to the face-changing in Sichuan opera, leaving many readers rubbing their eyes and questioning their lives.

Does this mean the report I saw yesterday was true? Or am I seeing things?

Even more outrageous readers dug out the previous day's newspaper and compared it with the current day's reports, discovering that some articles were actually written by the same editor.

One day they were writing that MSN was the savior of the social networking field, and the next day they changed their tune and criticized MSN as utterly worthless.

This act of turning one's back on someone has prompted netizens to comment, "I only change my attitude like this the next day when I've tricked a girl into bed."

That day, The New York Times made its stance clear with a striking headline: "Greatness comes from self-development, not money."

The article subtly and overtly satirizes Microsoft, stating that "some tech companies always think they can create good products by throwing money at acquisitions, but they forget that innovation is the core of technology. MSN's so-called breakthroughs are nothing more than a simple patchwork of existing functions; such products are ultimately unsustainable."

If The New York Times' criticism was somewhat subtle, then the Los Angeles Times, based in California where Ernst is based, was far more unrestrained.

MSN is like an exhibitionist, it's disgusting. Google Messenger, on the other hand, is more like a caring friend, always bringing surprises.

The article goes on to make a stark comparison between MSN and Google Messenger: "ICQ, which was being lauded by everyone just the day before, is like an immature child in front of Google Messenger."

"ICQ only has a single online real-time communication function, while Google Messenger? Its features are so rich that they will make you question your existence. You can chat with strangers, create group chat rooms, and share photos. This kind of product truly understands users and is truly innovative."

Between the lines, it's clear that he highly praises Google Messenger and disdains MSN.

Not only newspapers, but also television news programs joined this frenzy of criticizing MSN and praising Google Messenger.

During the live news broadcast, the host excitedly showed the camera the features of Google Messenger, speaking so fast it was as if he was afraid someone would steal his place in the conversation.

"You absolutely have to try Google Messenger's Strangers feature, it's amazing. As one of the first users, I can confidently say that this feature will completely change the way we socialize."

To prove he wasn't just making things up, the host shared his experience: "Before going on the show, I specifically tried it out for half an hour. Can you believe it? I actually chatted with an Italian girl in real time and we even exchanged photos."

At this point, he changed the subject, revealing a hint of regret, "However, there is a small flaw: there are restrictions on sending large attachments and high-resolution images; you need to become a Google Survivor to unlock them."

This so-called minor flaw is actually part of the profit model that Google Connect had designed long ago.

For Ernst, how could he possibly miss out on a lucrative project like value-added services?

For just $4.99 per month, you can enjoy over forty privileges, including red name display, higher ranking, member-exclusive highlighted text, offline downloads, and large file transfers.

Of all these privileges, the one that Ernst felt would be most effective in retaining consumers was the accelerated level upgrade.

Once users have experienced the thrill of being ahead of others, they find it hard to give up easily.

It's like leveling up in a game. When you're at the highest level among your friends and enjoying their amazement and envy, would you still want to stop?

The answer is obviously no.

The host continued to tout the power of Google Messenger: "Besides chatting with strangers, its group chat function is also fantastic."

"I joined a New York pet group today, and they're actually organizing a weekend pet meetup. I've already signed up, and I'm really looking forward to it."

"Google Messenger is like a magic wand that instantly brings people closer together. In the past, if you wanted to meet like-minded friends, you might have needed introductions from friends or to attend offline events. Now, with Google Messenger, you can find people who share your interests with just a click."

Then the host, as if transformed, said, "On the other hand, what is MSN? It's a pile of shit."

"I used its ICQ function yesterday, and I feel ashamed just thinking about it. In this era of increasingly diverse social needs, people want a wider social circle and more diverse ways of communication, while MSN..."

"What? It's like a text phone call in the internet age, only good for sending simple messages, completely neglecting the diverse needs of users."

"This is not just a matter of the number of features; it reflects that MSN's product thinking and internet thinking have become severely entrenched. It is still stuck in the rudimentary stage of providing users with whatever they need, forgetting that the core of the internet is to guide user demand."

"And Google Message has clearly achieved this."

Finally, the host didn't forget to add insult to injury, saying with a hint of sarcasm, "Of course, MSN's rigid thinking can't be entirely blamed on the product team. After all, its boss, Bill Gates, is essentially a nouveau riche who only knows how to throw money around and copy. Can you expect someone who built his fortune through acquisitions and imitation to create innovative products?"

This scathing critique left viewers in front of their televisions speechless, some even suspecting that the station had been paid by Google.

Meanwhile, at IBM headquarters in Armonk, New York, two executives were also watching this battle between giants closely.

If we were to choose a representative company for a single city, IBM would undoubtedly be the perfect example.

Before IBM moved to Armonk, it was just an unremarkable apple orchard with a population of less than a thousand. It was full of farmland and orchards, and there were hardly any decent shops.

But everything changed after IBM set up its headquarters here. Office buildings sprang up around the area, and shopping malls, restaurants, and hotels opened one after another. More and more people moved here to work and live, and Armonk City became one of the areas with the highest per capita income in the United States.

Later tech companies, such as Microsoft and Apple, chose to locate their headquarters in small towns rather than bustling cities largely because they were influenced by IBM.

At this moment, in IBM's CEO office, former CFO Jerome is chatting with current CEO Lou Gerstner.

The two sat together today, which was originally just a simple gathering of old friends, but as they talked, the topic unconsciously turned to Ernst.

Jerome initially said, "Google is probably in trouble this time. Microsoft's MSN has had a huge impact on Google."

But before he could finish speaking, the office television started broadcasting news from Google Message.

Watching the TV anchor's frenzied praise of Google Message and his relentless denigration of Microsoft, Gerstner turned to Jerome and said, "If I didn't know this was a legitimate news program, I would have suspected that Google had acquired CBS. This isn't a news report; it's practically a super-long version of Google Message."

There's a saying in the internet community that Ernst created it unintentionally.

First-class products are of high quality; second-class products are doomed.

The reason for this statement is mainly because Google products almost never get banned.

Just like the previous browser wars and email battles, Microsoft spent hundreds of millions of dollars on Google Chrome, and there were promotional posters and TVs for Microsoft products everywhere.

But what about Google?

It spent almost no money on GG, instead investing all its resources in technology research and development.

It is this technological advantage that allows Google's products to spread by word of mouth. If users find them good, they will recommend them to their friends, and over time, this has become a tacitly accepted notion.

Of course, it's not to say that Google doesn't engage in any promotional activities, but compared to other internet companies like Microsoft, Google's investment in advertising is pitifully small.

Therefore, many internet users and Silicon Valley professionals jokingly say that first-class products focus on quality, while second-class products are doomed.

This isn't about endorsing Google's philosophy; it's more about mocking Bill Gates and Microsoft, implying that Microsoft's products are just second-rate products built on Google's resources.

Jerome's eyes never left the screen. "What a surprising little guy. Now I finally know what he was going to do with all those large servers he ordered."

Jerome knew something was wrong when he heard that Google was buying a lot of large servers. Why would they buy so many servers?

Now, seeing the features of Google Messenger, it all makes sense. Google Messenger needs to support a massive number of users chatting and transferring files online simultaneously, which is impossible without sufficient server support.

"I had a feeling Google was going to make a big move, but I didn't expect it to be this big," Jerome remarked. "Now it seems Ernst didn't just set off a small firework, but a nuclear bomb. He wasn't aiming for just the email business, but the entire social media market."