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| | The Minding Your Own Business Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Seeking advice - Software | Views: 975 | | Jan 27, 2007 3:52 pm | | Seeking advice - Software | # | 
Ashish Belagali | | Hi all,
Just thought of bouncing this off you. I have developed a methodology that makes a lot of difference in developing software applications or maintaining them. The primary theme is to have non-programmatic assembling of software applications possible from completely reusable independent software modules. These software modules are created by programmers.
For over a decade, a lot of solutions towards developing and utilizing reusable software modules have been tried out in the mainstream software design, each improvising on the previous. What I have could be seen as the next step, where the task of creating a software application serving a domain is made very easy and taken out of programmers' hands. The technology will enable business analysts/ functional analysts or even end users create/ customize their application.
Not only is the solution easy to use, it is also a high performance one.
This methodology is based upon some standards and supported by a couple of tools that I have developed. The major question is front of me is which way to go next, and hence seeking your advice. The choices seem to be:
(a) Open source/ Give away the tools free and charge for services
(b) Selling the product and support to software vendors
I have spent years in the research, most of it in evolving the paradigm. The final product however is deceptively simple. Although a lot of people including software giants have been working in areas very close given the appeal of this idea, no one has hit upon this. My fear is that once the idea is out it can be duplicated, possibly in different flavours. What could be the ways to beat that?
I invite your suggestions on this. I am open to partnerships too, if there is a natural fit.
/AshishPrivate Reply to Ashish Belagali | | Jan 27, 2007 4:31 pm | | re: Seeking advice - Software | # | 
Lynne Cogan | | This is not my field of expertise and I have a couple of thoughts.
* A friend had software that he gave away free on the internet, however, there was a $5 handling fee. He made millions.
* You may also want to consider outsourcing the sales and support. That way you maintain greater control, but don't have to have everything inhouse.
* Another possible option for getting your product to market is licensing your program/modules to other developers who could use as part of their programs. That would encourage them to use what you've already created rather than recreating it. It will save them time and money during the R&D stage and would result in residual income for you.
* Lastly, you may want to speak with a good intellectual property/patent attorney about the ways that your product can be protected from those who would steal your idea.
LynnePrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Jan 27, 2007 5:28 pm | | re: Seeking advice - Software | # |
Ashish Belagali | | Hi Lynne,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
* I did not know about the handling charges. Could you give me a link so that I could find out more?
* Outsourcing sale is a good idea. I could use it for my software services business too. Who are the people who give it?
* I am not sure about this. What I have is not something that can be used as a library. It's a set of applications, having their own UI.
* Sure. Legal protection is good, but I have learnt that it's not foolproof.
Thanks again,
/AshishPrivate Reply to Ashish Belagali | | Jan 27, 2007 5:55 pm | | re: re: Seeking advice - Software | # |
Lynne Cogan | | Unfortunately, I don't have a link to the site. Don't even know if it is still in existence. But this is a concept that can work for many products. It's kind of like the shipping and handling charges tacked on to shipped orders, only this is handling for downloading an application.
Again, I don't know which companies specialize in outsourcing in your field. I work for a company called ACS (http://www.acs.com/) which is an international outsourcing company; it is a Fortune 500 company that works with other large/Fortune 500 companies although their website says the work with small to mid-size companies. The page you would probably find of the most interest is http://www.acs.com/services.aspx. They also do a lot of customer and technical support, but I don't believe they do any sales.
Hope this gives you some ideas.
LynnePrivate Reply to Lynne Cogan | | Jan 28, 2007 12:17 am | | re: Seeking advice - Software | # | 
Kurt Schweitzer | | Ashish,
Let me repeat the suggestion about getting legal advice.
If your idea is truly novel, you need to patent it. THEN you can decide whether to give it away, sell it, or license the technology.
The advantage of having a patent is that it makes the OTHER guys have to prove that your idea isn't new, or that they came up with it first, or whatever. Without a patent someone else can come along with a "cease and desist" letter, and then YOU are stuck with proving your idea is truly your own.
Talk to an Intellectual Property attorney. Even if you don't file for a patent, the investment in sound legal advice will be worthwhile.
Kurt Schweitzer
Urban Village Scooters
(and part time patent researcher)
P.S. The laws in your country may be different from those in mine, so get local advice.Private Reply to Kurt Schweitzer | | |
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