Hi Denis,

Continuing your trend to put new at the bottom. . .

>>Hi Denis,
>>
>>Just some thoughts...
>>
>>1) The other guys don't *have* anything yet and you do. They *may* be trying to hold onto "their" turf (any outsider opens the door for more to come in) by telling customers that they have something on the way too (even if they haven't yet).
>>
>>2) You know how your product works *for the user* and, more important, you have some idea of what the users (that you already have) feel about your product. *IF* they speak highly of it then that's good, but if there is little enthusiasm about it you should think harder.
>>
>>3) If they are "big boys" then they no doubt have lots of staff. There is an excellent chance that they will *not* deliver nearly as quickly as they may be suggesting *and* there is an equally good chance that what they deliver will be less than great (when you have so many cooks the meal can come out funny).
>>
>>It is possible that the competition is also just feeling out the potential market for such a product. You think (even know, to a certain extent) there is one, but one that's big enough for you *may* be too small still for them.
>>
>>Finally, they may have in mind - *IF* the market looks reasonable to them - to come and get you/buy you out.
>>
>>This is touchy, no doubt, and you are FAR more aware of the full story than I can be, but it would be my position at this time to sit tight and say NOTHING to the competition, waiting to see if they come to me.
>
>
>Hi Jim,
>
>Like you said Jim, Touchy
>
>
>
>OK so there is another approach. Tell me what you think about it.
>
>So far I've waited for my application to be more complete than it is right now before offering it to other companies. Now because of what I heard about that competitor should I contact all potential clients as soon as possible even if my app is not finished but very usable at this time?
>
>By opting for that approach I would let those potential customers know that there's something responding to a lot of their needs and that this solution is always improving.
>
>This way the competitor (who I'm sure never heard of me) would contact me instead of me contacting them which would give me a stronger position on an eventual deal?
>
>And if they don't contact me at least I'd make myself known faster in that industry. Even if my solution is not finished yet.

. . . So you have a product that is saving your existing customers lots of time and I infer that they generally find it very useful.

You say it's not finished, yet some can still use it to advantage. Don't let the quest for perfection be the enemy of 'pretty good already' (if that's the case). But also remember that if you make the effort to get it more exposure now it will take time away from the outstanding development still to be done.
By the way, I think that today people always expect to see next versions of any product, so your 'continually improving' should be a given. Just make sure you don't promise things for tomorrow.

IF your existing customers are already happy then it sounds to me like you could start selling it now. And the logic you have above about becoming more known more quickly is good too.

God luck
JimN