Chapter 2671 Waves Rise

"Jingle Bell……"

The cell phone kept ringing.

Xiao Qi originally hugged his wife in the warm bed, and didn't want to talk to her, but he called again and again, which made little Meiji wake up.

Then Tang Mingxiang punched her husband on the shoulder with a punch, telling him to get up to answer the phone, but ended up wrapping herself in a quilt and continuing to sleep.

Xiao Qi walked over and picked up the phone to have a look. It was only 5 o'clock in the morning, and it was a call from Anthony.

"Boss, it's bad!" Anthony said with a hint of panic in his tone, "There is news from the European Union that they will investigate our SKYPE, saying that SPYPE involves national security issues."

"Huh?" Xiao Qi frowned, "I can't explain it clearly on the phone, you can come to my house immediately."

"yes!"

Anthony hung up the phone in a hurry, and within an hour, he arrived at Tang Mingxiang's manor.

While drinking the coffee ground by the servant, Anthony told Xiao Qi what had happened in detail.

Two days ago, the telecommunications and mobile communications departments of the EU gathered together during the annual meeting of EU foreign ministers and heads of state to discuss some related issues.

Unexpectedly, yesterday afternoon, that is, in the early hours of this morning, Eastern Time in the United States, the Germans suddenly mentioned the rapid development of SKYPE in Europe.

After SKYPE was acquired by Xiao Qi in January this year and put forward five important development plans, it has entered a channel of rapid development.

By the end of November, SKYPE already had more than 500 million European and American customers, an increase of almost 50% compared to May and June!

Moreover, the number of minutes of SKYPE calls per day has skyrocketed by 180% compared to May and June, and the sales of credit cards in November reached a jaw-dropping US$1.5 billion! The overall various operating incomes add up to more than 2.3 billion US dollars.

Although this sales volume is completed in more than 30 countries, the sales volume in Europe accounts for 60%, which poses a huge threat to the European telecommunications industry.

according to their data. After SKYPE entered Europe, the consumption of mobile phone calls in the UK fell by 3%. France is 5%, Spain is also 5%... Germany is up to 8%.

Although it has not yet reached the point where it is broken, if SKYPE is allowed to continue to develop, it will definitely be a huge blow to the communication industry of these EU countries.

In any country, mobile phone, telecommunications, Internet access and other expenses are very profitable. And those who can control the communication companies are not ordinary companies, and usually have inextricable connections with the government.

Once they find that their cake is passive, they will definitely ask the government for help to exert pressure and strike on competitors.

If you want to talk about an American company, the European Union does not dare to make it so obvious, but you are a Chinese company. Although you are the richest company in the world, so what?

So after a meeting of a group of ministers of the communications industry in the EU. Immediately there was a decision to suppress SKYPE.

How to suppress it?

Of course, the tried-and-tested communications industry is about confidentiality, and it may involve leaking citizens’ privacy, leaking state secrets, and so on-the government says it doesn’t have these illusory things. It just doesn't, the government says it does. Then there is.

Once "citizen privacy", "national security" and so on are used as excuses, then this issue is not a commercial issue, and you can't use your influence no matter what.

Even a giant like Mario's Law Firm can't use its strength at all.

Because national security is above all else!

Due to time constraints, the specific plan has not yet been decided, but the specific tone has already been set.

Fairy Company has hired consulting companies all over the world. One of the functions of these consulting companies is to inquire about gossip about Fairy Company.

The same is true for Mario's Law Firm. As a lawyer, it is natural to have a good relationship with government departments. Those reckless people who think that they are really the "nemesis of the government" have long since disappeared.

Therefore, under the daily large sums of dollars to open the way. Naturally, there are many people in the European Union who have a good relationship with Mario Law Firm. This time it was one of the deputy ministers who attended the meeting. After arriving at the hotel, he called the people of Mario Law Firm and told them to do it quickly. Prepare.

Anthony is usually a very stable person, but he was a little at a loss when he heard the news.

He is now one of the most powerful people in the legal industry, but it is still far from going against the entire country, and even the entire European Union.

It's not just him, he knows that his boss is not qualified enough, if it is one of the countries such as Britain, France and Germany, it can barely be regarded as equal, but now that so many countries are attacking together, the richest man in the world doesn't care .

After all, what SKYPE is moving is everyone's cake. If everyone concentrates their efforts, it is simply not something that a Huaguo company can compete with.

So he rushed to report to Xiao Qi, wanting Xiao Qi to prepare early.

"Is it possible for the European Union to try harder?" Xiao Qi asked Anthony thoughtfully.

"It probably won't work, because boss, your SKYPE has developed too fast. In less than a year, it has brought such a big impact on their communication company. If it continues like this, they will not be able to sustain it." Anthony He shook his head and said, "Even if we are willing to spend money on this matter, it is impossible to bribe all the ministers. Moreover, the risk is too great. Once the news is revealed, I am afraid that things will get worse."

"I see."

Xiao Qi thought about it.

Since the EU cannot accommodate, there are only two ways for SKYPE to go.

One is to completely abandon the European market, and only specialize in the American market and developed Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea. Because SPKPE is based in the United States and most of its employees are Americans, it will naturally work in these places.

The second is to split SKYPE's European branch and partner with European communication operators, so that they have no excuse to stop SKYPE, but there is no doubt that at least half of the shares must be split out, which makes Xiao Qi was rather unwilling.

But leaving half of the shares is better than nothing.

In fact, Xiao Qi had long planned for the situation that SKYPE would encounter. Even Xiao Qi was prepared to sell SKYPE when it reached its peak.

The reason is because Xiao Qi is not from European or American countries.

This kind of encounter is not only aimed at Xiao Qi. If you change people from European and American countries to China to develop this kind of free network communication, you will also be subject to the strictest supervision... Well, in fact, SKYPE has not been allowed to enter from the beginning to the end. The reason for crossing the country of Hua is of course the same.

However, it is far from the time to sell SKYPE.

In the previous life, SKYPE, which has not yet reached the height of SKYPE in this life, was bought by Microsoft at a price of 8.5 billion U.S. dollars in May 2011. In this life, it is really uncomfortable to sell it without a market value of 20 to 30 billion U.S. dollars. Nah.

In a blink of an eye, Xiao Qi had a plan, ready to immediately negotiate with European communication companies in the form of this joint venture, and strive to settle the investigation bill against SKYPE before it comes out, so as not to have a great impact on SKYPE's operation.

But before he could speak, the bodyguard outside knocked on the door and walked in.

"Qi Shao, it's Mr. Ballmer from Microsoft." He held the phone and said to Xiao Qi, "He said he has something very important to ask you."

Xiao Qi looked at the time, it was only around 7 o'clock in the morning.

After thinking about it, he greeted Anthony, and walked aside with his work mobile phone, "Hi, Stephen, hello, I'm Xiao Qi."

Microsoft CEO Ballmer said with a smile, "Hello Qi Shao, I heard that you have been in trouble recently, do you want me to help?"

"What's the trouble?" Xiao Qi was slightly taken aback, and asked calmly.

"Hehe, it's SKYPE. The European Union has decided to investigate SKYPE, right?" Ballmer didn't hide it, and said with a smile: "If things don't go well for Qi Shao, Microsoft can help. Two."

"How are you going to cooperate?" Xiao Qi asked with a smile.

"Microsoft doesn't take advantage of Fairy Company either. We are going to buy 50% of SKYPE at a price of 3 billion US dollars. In Europe, we will help you!" Ballmer said.

At first glance, Microsoft's price is a bit high.

But if you think about it carefully, you know that Microsoft is taking advantage of the fire.

It’s true that Xiao Qi spent 2.8 billion dollars to buy SKYPE, but after adding commissions and other expenses, it was already 3.2 billion dollars. Then, in the past half a year, Xiao Qi invested 1 billion dollars in various network construction and Promotion, the total cost is at least 4.2 billion US dollars.

This is just the cost, without taking into account SKYPE's rapid progress in the past half a year, as well as the great development trend in the future.

Calculated in this way, Microsoft only gives a valuation of 6 billion US dollars, which is purely depreciating the value of SKYPE, and wants to buy a golden baby at a low price.

So Xiao Qi also straightforwardly said two words: "No."

"Qi Shao, don't rush to refuse." Ballmer was not impatient, "You only got news from Europe, right? As far as I know, the United States seems to have this kind of argument. Once Europe conducts an investigation, Then those who are not used to the development of Fairy Company will definitely actively push the United States to investigate. Even Microsoft will not have that much ability to save SKYPE by then!"

Xiao Qi's heart sank.

Good guy, this is to kill SKYPE! (to be continued ~^~)