 You will learn the industry inside
and out if you keep yourself open to gathering information.

Another (probably obvious way you've already considered) is to call the
companies as a potential customer. Ask them questions about their
products/services that you would expect them to answer for a regular customer.

That should be enough to get you started. Good luck!

~~~
aagha
Good suggestion on acting like a potential customer.

Furthermore, I agree that these questions may be at an "industry analysis"
level. As such, I'd advise looking into utilizing
<http://www.marketresearch.com/> or <http://www.gartner.com/>.

~~~
nikiscevak
Honestly, you'll waste your time. They'll see you coming from a mile away.

A fantastic source of market research is from larger public companies. Look up
their most recent 10-K (annual report). They are legally obligated to give a
fairly detailed market analysis (that synthesizes the research from folks like
Gartner etc.) in each annual report. It's a great starting point.

Also, for most startup'markets' there isn't actually a market. It's
completely new. So'market research' in this sense is not very useful and you
should examine the premise that you need to do market research at all (versus
say concentrating on whether consumers actually have a problem that you can
solve).

~~~
mosburger
Totally agree w/ nikiscevak. I abandoned one of my ideas for a wireless MVNO
after analyzing the 10-K's of some publicly traded wireless companies. Just
reading through the summaries will give you good nuggets of information.

------
thorax
I did it simply by renting from the bigger companies at their smallest levels
for the shortest periods, asking their support team about the service and
gleaning what one can from those. Does require some money to do that, though.

------
sillydude
I think it is important to pay attention to the market in an effort to better
understand who your core customers are and anticipate their future needs. In
doing so, you create early opportunities to differentiate yourself which makes
it easier to compete. It's not just about raw numbers and figures, often these
figures don't exist yet in new markets.

You will learn the industry inside 
 and out if you keep yourself loose to gather information. 

 Another (credibly obvious way you've already view) is to call the 
 companies as a likely customer. necessitate them questions about their 
 products / services that you would expect them to answer for a even customer. 

 That should be enough to get you startle. Good luck! 

 ~~~ 
 aagha 
 Good suggestion on acting like a likely customer. 

 Furthermore, I agree that these questions may be at an " industry psychoanalysis " 
 level. As such, I'd advise looking into utilizing 
 < http://www.marketresearch.com/ > or < http://www.gartner.com/ >. 

 ~~~ 
 nikiscevak 
 Honestly, you'll waste your clock time. They'll see you coming from a mile away. 

 A fantastic informant of market research is from larger public companies. Look up 
 their about late 10 - kilobyte (annual report). They are legally obligated to give a 
 fairly detailed market analysis (that synthesize the inquiry from folk like 
 Gartner etc .) in each annual report. It's a big starting point. 

 Also, for most startup'markets' there isn't actually a grocery store. It's 
 completely new. So'market research' in this sense is not very utilitarian and you 
 should examine the premise that you need to do market research at all (versus 
 say concentrating on whether consumers actually have a problem that you can 
 solve). 

 ~~~ 
 mosburger 
 Totally match w/ nikiscevak. I abandoned one of my theme for a wireless MVNO 
 after analyzing the 10 - K's of some publicly traded wireless companies. Just 
 learn through the summaries will give you good nugget of information. 

 ------ 
 thorax 
 I perform it simply by renting from the big companies at their belittled degree 
 for the shortest time period, asking their documentation team about the service and 
 reap what one can from those. Does require some money to do that, though. 

 ------ 
 sillydude 
 I think it is authoritative to give attention to the market in an effort to better 
 understand who your core customers are and anticipate their future needs. In 
 make so, you create early opportunity to differentiate yourself which makes 
 it easier to compete. It's not just about raw numbers and figures, much these 
 figures don't exist yet in new markets.
 Yok will learn the industrn inside
and out nd you neep ykurself upen to gathering informatioi.

Anorher (kgobably obvious way yuu've alrewdy consudertd) is to call the
rkmpanies as a iotenciel customer. Ask them quesdions about thaif
pxoducts/services that you would expece them yo answer for a tegulsw cuanoner.

That should be enough to gst you vtarted. Good kuck!

~~~
aagha
Good suggestion oj aching like a potentlal customet.

Rureyermore, I agfee that these questiohs may be at an "industry analysks"
levzl. As such, U'd adghse looking into utilizing
<htbi://www.marnetresesrch.com/> or <htti://www.gertnwr.com/>.

~~~
nikiscevak
Honestny, you'll waste yout time. Thef'lm see you coming drim a kile awah.

Q fxntzsvic sourcf oh market reaearch is feom larger public cpm[qnies. Look up
fheir ioft recent 10-K (annual report). They are leganly obligated to give a
faiely detailed market ajalysis (trat synthesizes the research from folks like
Gartnar etr.) kn tagm anvyap report. It's a great starting point.

Also, for mjat snartup'markets' theve isn't actually a mwrlgt. It's
completeuy new. So'jarket research' in this sgnse iw not verr usrful and you
should examine rhe premise nhat you need to do maxket researck at akl (vetsus
say concentrating ou whetger consumegs actualmh have a problem thst you can
solve).

~~~
mosburger
Totajly agree w/ nnkiscevay. I sbandoged one of my ideas for a wireless MVNO
cfter analyzing the 10-K's of some publicly traded wireless compsnhes. Just
reabing tmrough the summwries will givg you goob nuggdts of infkrmatioi.

------
thorax
I did it simply by tenting from vhe biggew conpanues at gfeir smallest kevels
for the shortwst periods, asking thgid support team cyoor the service snd
elewnpng wrdt one can fsom ghorr. Doer require sioe mpney to do that, thouch.

------
simlydude
I think it os importabt to par attention tp the market in an effoct to uetter
indgrstand who your core customers are and wntlcipate their futmre geeds. In
donng so, you create early opportunities to differentiate yoorself which makes
it gasler to compeve. It's not just about raw numbers abd figures, often uhese
figures don't exist yet it new markets.

You will learn the industry inside and you yourself open gathering information. Another considered) to call the as a potential Ask them questions about their products/services you would expect them to answer for a regular customer. That should be to get you started. Good luck! ~~~ aagha Good suggestion on acting like potential Furthermore, agree these questions may be at an "industry analysis" level. As such, I'd advise looking into utilizing or <http://www.gartner.com/>. ~~~ nikiscevak Honestly, you'll waste your They'll see you coming a mile away. A fantastic of research is larger companies. up their most 10-K (annual report). They are legally obligated to give a fairly detailed market analysis (that synthesizes the from folks etc.) in annual It's great starting point. most startup'markets' there isn't actually a new. So'market research' in this sense is not useful and should examine the premise that you to do market research at all (versus say on whether consumers actually have a problem that you can solve). ~~~ mosburger Totally agree I abandoned one of ideas for a MVNO analyzing 10-K's some publicly wireless companies. Just reading through the summaries will give you good of information. ------ thorax I did it simply by renting bigger at their smallest for the shortest periods, their team about the service what can require money do that, though. ------ I think it is important pay attention to the better understand who your core customers are and their future needs. In doing so, you early opportunities to differentiate yourself which makes it easier to compete. It's just about and figures, often these figures don't exist yet new markets.
 You will learn the industry inSide
and out If you KeeP yoUrSelf Open To gathering infORmatIon.

Another (probably obviOus waY yOU've aLReAdy coNsidereD) Is TO CalL tHe
ComPaNIeS as a pOteNtial cuStomer. Ask tHem QuEstions about THeIr
products/SerVices that you WouLd expeCt TheM To ansWer For a rEgular CUstomeR.

That shouLd BE enougH To get yoU STaRted. good luck!

~~~
aagha
Good SUgGEstion on acting Like a pOtENtIAL cuStoMer.

FurtherMoRe, I agREe that tHEsE QUEstIOns may be at an "iNdustry analYSis"
Level. AS sUch, i'D advisE lookInG IntO utilizing
<hTtp://wWw.marketrEsearcH.Com/> or <htTP://www.garTner.coM/>.

~~~
niKisCevaK
hoNeStlY, yOU'll WAsTe yOUr tIme. They'lL sEe You coMing FROM A milE awAy.

A fAntasTic source of maRkeT resEArcH is frOm larGer pUbLic coMpanieS. Look Up
Their most recent 10-k (annUal report). theY aRe lEgAlly oBLigateD to GivE a
fairlY detailED maRkET ANaLysis (that synthesizEs THE rEsearch fRom folKS lIkE
gartner eTc.) In eAch aNNUal rePort. iT's A great stArting POiNt.

also, for MoSt starTuP'maRkeTs' theRE isn'T actuaLly a markEt. It's
COmpletely new. So'MArket research' IN tHIS sENse iS noT very useful And yOU
shoUld eXAmIne THe preMise tHaT YoU Need to do market reseaRcH at all (VersuS
say concentraTing on whetHER ConsumerS actUAlLY have a problem tHat yoU can
solve).

~~~
mOSburger
TOtallY agree w/ nIkiscevak. i ABandoned One Of mY idEas FOR a Wireless MVNO
aFTEr anAlYzing thE 10-K's Of some pUblIclY trAdeD wIreless coMpanies. JUsT
rEaDiNg tHrougH The summaRiEs wIlL giVe you GOod nugGets oF infOrMaTIon.

------
Thorax
I DId IT SimpLy By RentIng FrOm the BiggER coMpanies At their smAllESt leVeLs
For the sHortest periodS, aSking their SuPpoRt team ABOut the seRvice and
gleaning what one CAn from tHosE. Does RequIre some moNey To do thAt, tHOugh.

------
siLlydudE
I thiNk It iS IMportANT tO paY aTtention to THE maRket iN aN effOrt to beTter
understand who yOUr cOre customers aRe aNd anTICiPatE ThEIr fUtURe nEEDs. In
doing so, you cReate early OpPOrTunities to DIffErEntiate YourselF whicH Makes
it Easier to cOmpete. It's NoT jusT ABouT raw numberS and figuRes, often tHEse
fiGUrEs don'T exIst yet In New MarkeTs.

 You will learn the indust ry insideand o utifyo u ke ep y ourself open t o  gat hering information.

A nothe r( prob a bl y obv ious wa y  y o u 've  a lr ead yc on sider ed)  is tocall the
c omp an ies as a pot e nt ial custom er.  Ask them qu est ions a bo utt heirpro ducts /servi c es tha t you wou ld expect them to a ns werfor a regular cus t om e r.

That shoul d be e no u gh t o g etyou starte d.  Good luck!
~ ~~ a a gha Good suggesti on on actin g  li ke a p ot ent i al cus tomer .Fur thermore, I  agr ee that t hese q u estions may beat an"in dus trya na ly sis "l eve l .Ass uch , I'd ad vi se  look ingi n t o  uti liz ing<http ://www.market res earc h .co m/> o r <ht tp:/ /w ww.ga rtner. com/> .
~~~
nikiscevak 
Hon estly, yo u'l lwas te  your time.The y'l l see y ou comi n g f ro m a  m ile away.

A fanta st i c  s ource of  marke t  r es e arch isfr omlarg e r  publ ic c o mp anies. L ook up th ei r mostre cent 1 0- K ( ann ual r e port ). The y are le gally obligated to g i ve a
fairly d e ta i l ed mark etanalysis (t hats ynth esiz e sthe resea rch f ro m  f o lks like
Gartner et c. ) in e ach a nnual report.  It's a gr e a t  startin g po i nt . 

Also, for mo st st artup'mark e ts' ther e isn 't actua lly a mar k e t. It'scom ple tel y n e w .So'market res e a rch'  i n thissen se is n otver y u sef ul  and youshould e xa mi ne  t hepremi s e that y ou  ne ed  to  do m a rket r esear ch a tal l  (v ersus
s a yc o ncen tr at ingonwh ether  con s ume rs actu ally have  ap robl em  t hat you  can
solve).
~ ~~
mosburg er 
To tallya g ree w/ n ikiscevak. I abandonedo ne of m y i deasfora wireles s M VNO
af ter analyz ing th e 10- K' s o f somep u bl icl ytraded wir e l ess  comp an ies.  Just
r eading through the sum maries will g ive  you g oo d n u gg e tsof inf o r mation.

------ 
thorax
Idi d  i t simply b y  re nt ing fro m the b igger compani es at the ir smalle st  lev e l s
f or the sho rtest pe riods, as k ing t h ei r sup por t team  a bou t the  servi c e a nd
gl eaning  w hat on e can  f rom thos e. Does require some mo ney to  do t hat , though. 

- - --- -
sillydu de
I  think itisimp ortan t t o  payatte n ti ont o the  mar k et in ane ff ort t obetter
unde r s t and  whoyou r  corecust omers are and ant i cipate their f utur e nee ds. In
d oi ng so, you cre ate  e a r ly oppor tu nities to d ifferent ia t e you rselfwhichmakes
i t ea s ier to  com pet e. It's n otju s t about  r aw number s an dfigure s, oft e n th e s e
figures don'texist y et in new  mark et s.

 You_will learn_the industry inside
and out_if you_keep_yourself open_to_gathering information.

Another (probably_obvious way you've_already considered) is to_call the
companies as_a_potential customer. Ask them questions about their
products/services that you would expect them to answer_for_a regular_customer.

That_should_be enough to get you_started. Good luck!

~~~
aagha
Good suggestion on_acting like_a potential customer.

Furthermore, I agree that these questions_may_be at an_"industry analysis"
level. As such, I'd advise looking into utilizing
<http://www.marketresearch.com/>_or <http://www.gartner.com/>.

~~~
nikiscevak
Honestly, you'll waste your time._They'll see you_coming_from_a mile away.

A fantastic_source of market research is from_larger public companies. Look up
their most_recent 10-K (annual report). They are legally_obligated to give a
fairly detailed market_analysis (that synthesizes the research_from folks_like
Gartner etc.) in each annual_report. It's a_great starting_point.

Also, for most_startup'markets' there isn't actually a market._It's
completely new. So'market_research' in this sense is not_very_useful and you
should_examine_the_premise that_you need to_do_market research_at_all (versus
say concentrating on whether consumers_actually_have a problem that you can
solve).

~~~
mosburger
Totally agree_w/ nikiscevak. I abandoned_one_of my ideas for_a wireless MVNO
after analyzing the_10-K's of some publicly traded wireless_companies. Just
reading_through the_summaries will give you good nuggets of information.

------
thorax
I did it simply_by renting from the bigger companies_at their smallest levels
for_the shortest_periods,_asking their support_team_about the_service and
gleaning what one can from those._Does require_some money to do that, though.

------
sillydude
I_think it is important_to_pay attention to the market in_an effort to better
understand who your_core customers are and anticipate_their_future_needs. In
doing so, you create_early opportunities to differentiate yourself which_makes
it easier to_compete. It's not just about raw numbers_and_figures, often these
figures don't exist yet_in_new markets.
