Due to the network attacks and eavesdropping incidents that occurred a few days ago, the Firefly system has been rearranging all aspects of security measures recently, and ensuring the security of email and mobile communications is the two most important things.
It just so happened that RIM in Canada had just signed a cooperation agreement with Sprint, a telecom operator invested by Firefly, and Kelly recommended RIM's BlackBerry to Eric.
RIM released the BlackBerry mobile phone with Sprint's CDMA network, which just meets the information security and confidentiality requirements of email and mobile communication. Eric decided decisively to promote this mobile phone within the Firefly system.
At the same time, by the way, it is easy to acquire RIM, which is still in the early stage of development.
BlackBerry is also very suitable as a sub-brand of Nokia's main business security field.
Compared with Nokia, whose market capitalization has exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars in recent months, RIM's recent stock price has also risen sharply, but its current market value is only more than 260 million U.S. dollars. In any case, buying RIM will be a very cost-effective business.
Moreover, combining the information in his hands and the information in his memory, Eric also discovered that the situation of the Blackberry mobile phone was almost exactly the same as that of the MP3 player.
In the past, these two products already had a very mature technology accumulation before they were widely promoted. But because they missed the best opportunity for commercial promotion, after many years of ups and downs, the two products just became popular, and they were quickly squeezed out of the market by brand new electronic products. MP3 players are being outdone by music phones of all kinds, and Blackberries are being outdone by touch-screen smartphones with richer applications.
Now, since Eric can clearly see the market potential of BlackBerry. Then, instead of waiting for an opportunity such as the 9/11 high-level U.S. government’s use of BlackBerry mobile phones to receive disaster site information in real time, BlackBerry mobile phones can be promoted in advance by virtue of the strong channel and resource advantages of the Firefly system.
Moreover, if there is more time to complete the layout of BlackBerry mobile phones and related peripheral services, even if the era of smartphones comes, Eric believes that BlackBerry mobile phones, which focus on high-end business and security, will not decline as quickly as before.
After taking the document handed over by Mayer and opening it, Eric asked casually, "What are the possible problems?"
"The most important thing is the patent," Mayer replied: "During Nokia's evaluation of the BlackBerry mobile phone, it was found that this mobile phone violated at least 20 patents of the company. Moreover, the wireless mail push function of the BlackBerry mobile phone, the core patent is also Not in the hands of RIM, but owned by a company called NTP in Virginia. RIM is still very small, and it doesn't attract too many people's attention. However, if we buy BlackBerry, then, such as NTP Patent holders will definitely file a patent lawsuit, which may even lead to a federal ban on BlackBerry phones."
Over the years, Eric has always paid great attention to the patent layout of the companies under the Firefly System. The most important reason is that he was affected by a series of patent wars in his memory. Among them, the wireless mail patent war between RIM and NTP is undoubtedly the most impressive one.
In 2006, after six years of tug-of-war litigation, NTP finally claimed a huge patent compensation fee of more than US$600 million from RIM through a series of wireless mail patents.
Looking at RIM's current market capitalization of less than 300 million US dollars, even if the history does not change, for RIM in 2006, the 600 million US dollars in patent compensation fees is definitely a traumatic blow.
Of course, if you think about it now, the $600 million in compensation must have been biased by the federal government.
Although RIM's business focus was in North America, it was still a Canadian company after all. However, NTP is an American company. Naturally, it is impossible for the federal government to turn to outsiders. If RIM wants to continue to maintain business in the United States, it can only suffer from this super dumb loss.
After knocking on the table and thinking for a moment, Eric said: "Isn't the patent of email in our hands? Isn't Yahoo or Firefly Electronics involved in the research and development of wireless email technology?"
"Yes, but it is not as comprehensive as NTP." Mayer nodded and continued: "Although wireless mail has some technical overlap with email, it cannot be regarded as a derivative of email technology. NTP was established in 1992. Yes, the registration time of the other party's patent is almost synchronized with the registration time of the e-mail patent held by Yahoo. I have already consulted the patent management departments of Yahoo and Firefly Electronics. They said that according to the degree of technology overlap between the two parties, if a lawsuit is filed, we are confident Can obtain all wireless mail patent licenses from NTP for free."
Eric said: "But it must take time?"
"Yes, according to the trial process of similar cases, it will take at least a year for us to obtain the license for free. But if Nokia also initiates an acquisition of BlackBerry and arouses the vigilance of NTP, this process will definitely take longer," Mayer said. Speaking of this, he paused for a while, and said directly: "So, the best way is to buy. The patents held by NTP have not been widely used yet, and it only takes about 6 million US dollars to buy this company. Of course, If we are too eager, we will definitely need to pay a considerable premium, and the final transaction price may be 8 million to 10 million US dollars."
The acquisition of less than 10 million US dollars is completely insignificant for Eric's current net worth.
However, this matter cannot be measured in this way.
Even if there is no memory of the past, whether to win the patent of NTP company is also very important for the future layout of BlackBerry mobile phones. Mayer obviously also saw this, so he mentioned it in front of Eric.
"Then let Nokia buy this company as soon as possible," Eric thought for a while, and quickly made a decision: "RIM, you can wait a little longer and wait for another two or three months."
According to the current explosive trend of the technology stock market, it is estimated that the Nasdaq index can only last for another two or three months at most. At that time, the technology stocks will plummet across the board, and RIM will definitely not escape. Initiating an acquisition after that will not only save a considerable sum of money, but it is obviously easier to succeed. "
Mayer nodded, then immediately added: "It would be better to use a shell company to initiate an acquisition of NTP."
Eric smiled and said: "Sometimes I can't think of these details, you can decide for yourself."
Mayer responded, bowed her head and began to record in a pocket memo.
Eric was sitting at the desk, looking at the girl in the OL suit standing opposite who was writing seriously, and suddenly felt emotional, and said in a gentle tone: "Mary, it's good to have you by my side."
Mayer paused while writing, and although she didn't raise her head, her face was obviously covered with a layer of rosiness.
Quickly wrote a few more words on the palm memo, the female assistant raised her head and gave Eric a blank look, then turned and left the study.
Four hours later, the Boeing 747 landed at Ventura Airport.
Although it was still working hours, Katzenberg and Caroline came to pick him up in person.
After exchanging pleasantries, the group got into the car. Although the two sides had been in close communication during this time, Katzenberg couldn't wait to talk about the latest affairs.
"There are at least three forces behind the wiretapping incident, but so far, only Tiger Fund has been caught. Ian and Ian have been discussing the company's security issues recently, including the monitoring system, confidentiality regulations and security Personnel. Eric, aren’t you asking Carter to set up a separate bodyguard team? I thought, instead of handing over the security of the Firefly system to outsiders, it’s better for us to do it ourselves and set up a special security company to provide all the security we need. All of these businesses are included to serve the entire Firefly system."
Eric listened to Katzenberg's words and noticed that Carter Moen, who was driving in the front seat, couldn't help but glanced at the rearview mirror, and said with a smile, "Carter, what do you think?"
"Boss, although I really want to take on this responsibility. But frankly speaking, if it is going to be big, I may not be able to do it."
Eric nodded, and said to Katzenberg next to him: "Actually, the key to this matter is to find someone who is trustworthy and capable enough. The degree of responsibility, but the specific things still need to be done by professionals. The goal of the firefly system is too big, and if we blindly look for people, we may be taken advantage of."
"We can let the headhunting company find some candidates first, and we will pick them slowly," Katzenberg said. "In any case, this is definitely better than leaving things to outsiders."
"That's it," Eric agreed, "I'll ask Kelly to come up with a plan first, which departments need to be established, as well as the budget, etc. If you have any suggestions, you can also tell me directly. "
"So, Viacom." After talking about this matter, Katzenberg said again: "Eric, what are you going to do?"
"I have been looking at Viacom Group's financial reports in recent years. The biggest feeling is that Viacom's business territory has been expanding rapidly over the years, but the company as a whole is declining. Just like Blockbuster Viacom spent more than 8 billion U.S. dollars to buy this video rental and sales chain store, but in just a few years, the company’s market value has shrunk to the current 3 billion U.S. dollars. Although the pure video industry is developing Rapidly declining, but the home entertainment market gradually replaced by DVD has been expanding rapidly. Last year, the output value of the entire home entertainment market was close to 20 billion US dollars, almost three times that of Hollywood's North American box office. But Blockbuster's market share From 45% at the peak to 25% now. Do you know where the problem is?"
Katzenberg asked without thinking, "Redstone?"
"Yes, Redstone," Eric nodded, and said, "Redstone is too old to keep up with the times. More importantly, he still refuses to delegate power to the managers below, and has been keeping Viacom All the power of Viacom is tightly held in his own hands, which is the root of Viacom's decline. In my opinion, Redstone is like a founding king who was good at fighting in ancient times. Territory, but does not have enough ability to govern a country, and at the same time he is unwilling to hand over power to those courtiers who are capable of governing the country. Then, the result of this 'country' can only decline."
For the two old men in Hollywood, in Eric's opinion, Murdoch is much better than Redstone. This is why Fox's business is still very good despite the rapid decline of News Corporation's fundamental print media business.
In comparison, Lei Shidong has completely become a self-willed tyrant.
In the original time and space, Paramount fell out with Cruise for a "Mission: Impossible" series, and even made a big move to make the other party evil. This actually reflects Paramount and even Viacom from another aspect. decline.
A Hollywood tycoon is reduced to getting angry with a star for the benefit of a movie, even if it is a first-line superstar, it is too cheap. What's even more depreciating is that after the anger is over, you have to put down your posture and continue to cooperate with the other party.
Katzenberg seemed to realize something, but he quickly said: "Eric, I know you are very angry about this recent incident, but it is unrealistic to push Redstone down. Although the Redstone family Does not own an absolute stake in Viacom, but owns more than half of the voting power in the company."
"I didn't think so," Eric shook his head, with a sneer on the corner of his mouth, and said, "Think about this scene, an old king is guarding his throne, but he can only watch his kingdom collapse step by step. Is it tragic enough, does it have a sense of epic?"
Katzenberg felt a chill all over his body, and nodded subconsciously: "Then what are you going to do?"
Eric shook his head: "Don't worry, wait until "Iron Man" is released."
Fighting the enemy is important, but the most important thing is to save yourself first.
Right now, "Iron Man" is what Eric is most concerned about. This opening work of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is crucial to the future film layout of Firefly Pictures. After all, "Iron Man" is only a few days away, and some things will only have to wait a week or two at most.
Back at Pointe Manor, it was only past two o'clock in the afternoon in Los Angeles. Katzenberg still had work to do, so he left quickly after sitting for a while.
The villa still seemed empty and deserted. The girl hadn't returned from Australia yet, but Elizabeth and Julia had already returned. Eric received a call from her just as he was in the car.
After seeing Katzenberg off, Eric returned to sit on the sofa next to the glass curtain wall of the villa, stretching his body casually. A series of recent incidents have come one after another. After all, Eric still has accumulated a deep sense of fatigue in his heart. At this time, when he returns home and looks at the blue sea and blue sky outside the curtain wall, he feels a lot more relaxed.
Caroline and Mayer hadn't left yet and were helping Eric pack his luggage.
After a while, Caroline came over with a pot of coffee in her hand, put it down on the tea table next to Eric, quietly sat down beside him, and said, "Eric, aunt said that she plans to come to Los Angeles next week .”
Eric was a little puzzled: "Huh?"
"Last time, in London, when I was home, my aunt ran over suddenly and asked something about you."
Eric realized that it should be the day he handed over the laptop to Olivia, and said, "Did she say anything?"
"My aunt didn't say anything." Caroline shook her head and said, "She just told me that she will come over next week."
Eric thought for a while, a little confused, so he could only nod and said, "I see."