I Mailed Microsoft an Internet Idea in 1998. Here’s What Happened

I built a push-indexing prototype in rural Russia. Microsoft said no. Two decades later, the industry built it.

In October 1998, an envelope from Redmond, Washington, landed in my mailbox in Velikiye Luki. Inside was a five-line letter: "Although your submission is interesting, we have determined your product does not fit our current business needs." It was a reply to my letter, in which I had pitched one idea to Microsoft.

But let's start from the beginning.

My name is Andrey. I'm from a small town called Velikiye Luki in Russia. I'm 47 years old now. I work as a programmer and system administrator at a state educational institution. Not long ago, while sorting through old papers, I came across a letter dated 1998. I read it, remembered its story, and decided to tell it to you. I think it will interest many readers. At least, I hope so.

I...

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