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This question has been closed, and points have been awarded.
How To Market A Billing Messaging Solution
Posted By: stanlewis* on 7/12/2004 9:29 AM (CST) 125 Points
As a Company we have developed a Billing System for Electronic Messaging (EDI, Web, e-mail, fax, telex) which was used by an American Messaging Company for some 5 years. They have migrated to an in-house system and no longer require our system. This system would appeal to USA companies looking to have a intenationally capable, multi-model product. It is already paid for and therefore economical to sell/lease/rent. How can we market this product in the USA without incurring excessive costs?

Posted by: JBtron Accepted Answer
7/12/2004 11:27 AM (CST)
stan,

You need a lot of money and a hook on this side of the pond to get into this market in the US.

There are SO MANY players, that entering with what would normally be called a "legacy" system - NOT the latest in XML programming or knowledge-based systems - makes it even HARDER to get a foothold.

What industries have you serviced in the past? "An American Messaging System" doesn't give us much to go on.

GET BACK TO US!

Hope this helps!

Best,

::JBtron
 
Posted by: stanlewis* Author Response
7/12/2004 12:04 PM (CST)
JBtron,
thanks for your response. The system we have is not legacy; it is a windows system uses SQL Server about 5 years old. it was used by two companies - one was Unisource in Holland and the other was part of AT&T corp (UK part) to produce bills for a web system. it has two clever features apart from the usual - it allows a Bill of material type account structure (many levels) and also it has 7 types of pricing (subscription, usage.....). infinite products and date based product pricing (many versions including future type). It is not obsolete!
I appreciate your comment on hooks and contacts.
It cost $150K to develop.
 
Posted by: telemoxie Accepted Answer
7/12/2004 7:59 PM (CST)
SORRY - CORRECTIONS IN CAPS...

If it were me, I'd look for a complementary company with a large installed telco base and who has A COMPETITOR WITH either an integrated capability similar to your product or has a strategic relationship with such a company. I agree with JBtron that you have a very small chance of success on your own.

Also, I have a good friend who was involved in billing for a major US international carrier, and is now a consultant in the telecommunications industry. You could run the idea by this person... give me a call (click on my name to the right to go to my profile and web site) and give me a call.
 
Posted by: stanlewis* Author Response
7/13/2004 6:05 AM (CST)
telemoxie,
thank you for your response. i will call as requested. it seems that to market this product in the wider sense would be difficult; it needs to find a very limited target audience. I suppose that is another question!
 
Posted by: santafescribbler* Accepted Answer
7/13/2004 11:12 AM (CST)
I agree that a really close targeting of this product is the way to go. I handled communications for a billing management provider for a couple of years and found that trying to go broad was a waste of money. Focus on the few consultants left in the game (Yankee Group has a couple), get the job titles of the people you want to sell to and get in their face.

finally, I'd say the US market is not the place for you. Here everything's flat rate and telco's (etc.) have trained their customers to expect that (lousy marketing in my opinion). We found a much more receptive response to billing management in Europe and Japan.
 
Posted by: stanlewis* Author Response
7/13/2004 1:06 PM (CST)
santafescribbler, thank you for your response.
looks like this is flogging a dead horse.
i will take your advice and concentrate on something else likely to make money.
i will close this question in a day or so and mark the responses appropriately.
thank you to those people who have contributed; it was very gratifying to receive such help.
 
Posted by: Val (Moderator)* Moderator Response
7/31/2004 10:21 PM (CST)
Hello all. I am closing this question since it's more than 2 weeks old. We do this to reward the contributions of participants in a timely manner + to give increased visibility to the newer questions.

Thanks, so much, for participating!

Val (Moderator)
 


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