Chapter 71: Flame
Wesley, who was sitting next to Song Yang and was in charge of the Hotmail mailbox project, said to Song Yang, "The current Hotmail email mailbox has not been fully developed, but the most basic email functions have been completed!"
With the addition of software development engineers from Wang Laboratories, and the fact that Wang Laboratories itself was one of the earliest players in the email industry with rich technical reserves, the development of Hotmail email progressed at a very fast pace.
Song Yang looked at the homepage of the Hotmail mailbox in front of him. He only needed a URL and could directly enter the webpage of the Hotmail mailbox through the browser.
Apart from the functions, the interface of Hotmail is quite simple, continuing the style of DoubleClick's official website. Compared with other peers, the web design of Hotmail is definitely a cut above the rest.
The most obvious position on the homepage is the buttons for registration and login, which make it clear at a glance. Wesley followed Song Yang's instructions and did not do anything fancy. He made the operation as "fool-proof" as possible. Even a user who has never touched a computer can get started after a few glances!
Song Yang registered an account and then entered the Hotmail email background. Similarly, in the most conspicuous position of the background, there were only two functions: sending emails and receiving emails. In later generations, major websites and APPs had more and more complex functions because of increasing demands.
However, most people in today's Internet industry are newbies who have just started or have never been exposed to the Internet industry. The simpler the operation and the more newbie they are, the easier it is to win the hearts of users!
Currently, Hotmail mailboxes are still registered internally. Only developers such as Wesley have registered accounts for functional testing. There are only dozens of accounts, and Song Yang can send emails from these accounts.
After editing an email, Song Yang sent it to Wesley's account. A few seconds later, a sound of water drops was heard on Wesley's computer. This was the incoming email reminder sound set in the Hotmail email account.
Wesley opened the email sent by Song Yang. There was only one sentence on it, "The email is from Hotmail!"
At this time, the entire Hotmail development department clearly let out a sigh of relief. They had been busy for so long and finally nothing went wrong.
The entire Hotmail mailbox has other functions, but they are basically shelf-stable and are still under development, including mailbox virus scanning, calendar service, scheduled sending, email search and other functions.
But the completion of the most basic sending and receiving of emails means that the launch of Hotmail mailbox has entered the countdown. As for the problem of unstable functions, isn’t this the norm in the current Internet industry?
Upgrade while using it, and everyone is looking for bugs. Netscape, Yahoo, etc. have all gone through this process. Hotmail email cannot deprive users of this happiness. The key is to launch it first, which means to seize the market first. The rest can be improved slowly. Hotmail email is different from Double-click Company. It needs users and traffic, otherwise no big customers will be willing to take over!
"When can all the development be completed?" Song Yang asked Wesley. He was quite satisfied with Wesley's performance. As expected, those who graduated from Rice University, a top university in America, are all very capable.
"If everything goes well, we expect to be able to conduct internal testing before the end of the month, and external testing and registration will be open next month..."
Song Yang listened to Wesley's words and thought about it. If registration could be opened for promotion in the middle of next month, Song Yang would be able to start promoting the Hotmail account before going to the University of San Jose.
"but……"
Song Yang looked towards Wesley and frowned, "But what?"
"But the virus scanning function for Hotmail email boxes may be difficult to implement. We asked McAfee for the price, but the price asked by McAfee and Symantec was too high!"
The current leader in global antivirus software is undoubtedly McAfee, which went public three years ago. Symantec is the current owner of Norton Antivirus Software. Both of them are giants in the global antivirus software industry.
These are all listed companies. Although Wesley did not reveal his identity when asking for the price, even if he had, the price probably would not be much cheaper.
Song Yang rubbed his brows. If he wanted to launch a free email account, he must have the support of antivirus software. Otherwise, no one would dare to use it. Only God knew how effective this thing was. But it was like hitting a wolf with a stick. At least it would make him feel safer. In fact, wolves never act alone...
Not only Hotmail email, but also ICQ and other products to be launched in the future, whether hardware or software, cannot be separated from the support of antivirus software companies.
It would be fine if it only happened once, but if he would be controlled by others in the future, and it would also involve a lot of core data, Song Yang was really worried about putting the knife in someone else's hands, especially in America, where anything could happen!
After thinking for a while, Song Yang said to Wesley, "Let's find a new antivirus software company!"
"No longer cooperating with McAfee and Symantec?!" Wesley said in surprise. Now any company with a little fame in America is giving money to these two companies.
Song Yang shook his head and smiled. "A company that provides anti-virus software for DoubleClick, Hotmail, and ICQ, could it be an unknown company?"
Wesley was stunned when he heard this. He already understood what Song Yang was going to do. He was going to support an antivirus software company of his own.
But on second thought, Wesley couldn't help but get excited. If he could really use DoubleClick, Hotmail, and ICQ to support an antivirus software giant, or even take it public, wouldn't that mean that DoubleClick, Hotmail, etc. had also become true giants? If this came true, it would become a legend in Silicon Valley.
"Please work hard on your side and complete the development of Hotmail as soon as possible. I will take care of the anti-virus software," Song Yang said to the staff of the Hotmail development department after standing up. "Once the project is completed, we will hold a party for everyone at the RICK Club and all the bonuses will be distributed!"
As soon as these words came out, the entire development department howled like wolves. Even Wesley yelled. He had heard of the name of the RICK Club a long time ago, not to mention that big mouth Gallo had often talked about it in front of him.
After leaving the Hotmail email development department, Song Yang and Wesley came to the ICQ development department.
However, compared with the rapid progress of Hotmail, ICQ seems a bit slow. Developing a software that has never been developed before is bound to take much longer, not to mention that there is not enough manpower.
ICQ is not even a semi-finished product yet and is still under construction. Wesley is also a bit troubled. "Song, your requirements for ICQ are too high. Many functions require too much time to develop with current technology!"
If you just build a simple chat tool and use two computers to exchange text through a software, it would naturally be much simpler.
But what Song Yang asked Wesley for was a relatively mature instant messaging system, which was not a simple task.
Song Yang didn't mean to blame Wesley. He just checked the development progress of ICQ and said to Wesley, "When the development of Hotmail is completed, you and the ICQ project will come with me to San Jose. We will find enough manpower for you. ICQ must pass the internal test before the end of the year!"
"The man who will change Silicon Valley and the American Internet will also leave your name!"
Before leaving, Song Yang patted Wesley on the shoulder and gave him a big bowl of toxic chicken soup. Bill Gates, Marc Anderson and other technology figures on the cover of Time magazine deeply stimulated Wesley.
After leaving the Hotmail mailbox and ICQ development department, Song Yang thought for a while and made a phone call.
If you want to find a strong small antivirus software company in Silicon Valley, you must ask an old hand for directions. Song Yang couldn't think of anyone more suitable than the old man Tristan.
When Tristan received Song Yang's call, he was obviously surprised to hear that Song Yang wanted to invest in a new small antivirus software company.
"This will take time. I need to ask some old friends. I'll call you tomorrow!" Tristan thought for a moment and said, he has extensive connections in Silicon Valley and the Internet industry. Many people in the Internet industry have been praised by him, so they are naturally willing to help...
After finishing the things here, Song Yang said something to Irene, who was willing to work like a slave and was working hard at Double Click Company, and then drove towards Gallo's auto repair stall.
Like other cities in America, Houston, as the fourth largest city in America, is divided into many different communities, just like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. But basically, there are also rich areas, common areas, and slums. Of course, they are not called so directly and explicitly, but everyone knows it.
Gallo's racing company's repair shop is located near a slum community in Houston. It is obvious that this place is different from other areas in Houston.
The streets are obviously a mixed crowd, with Mexicans, Africans, Eastern Europeans, South Americans and other people mixed together. It is not uncommon to see people with bare chests and various tattoos on their bodies. When Song Yang drove by, he could see groups of three or five people gathered together, staring at the streets all the time, obviously doing underground transactions.
Song Yang drove directly to this street. Thinking of the scene he had just seen, Song Yang couldn't help but wonder whether he should find a bodyguard to be with him.
