Yeah, I'm only speculating but it's possible exclusivity might be on a regional markets basis e.g. N. America. The intial arrangement between Thinkorswim and Dev Experts is at least 4 years old. Forex is a relatively recent offering by Thinkorswim so there might not be a conflict with GFT. Exclusivity might be with respect to the options trading functionality offered to retail traders, which was historically the core unique selling point of the Thinkorswim platform. Dev Experts were definitely guided through developing the platform by Thinkorswim...specifically the options analysis functionality. Therefore, I would say a lot of IP has to belong to Thinkorswim and couldn't simply be cloned by Dev Experts without there being some consequences. Anyway, it's all speculation - i'm no lawyer. The involvement of Dev Experts in this whole acquisition picture certainly adds another dimension to it though whatever the actual relationships are.
I'm not disputing this, but I visited and was provided a tour of tos recently. There are at least 6 java programmers working upstairs away from the trading desk at the tos office. I was under the possibly mistaken assumption that these guys wrote the platform code.
You generally always have an in-house group even if you have outsourced applications. The TOS developers are probably making more of the smaller enhancements/changes or quicker turnarounds to the applications plus managing the 3rd party development group. You have to verify the deliverables from the outsourcing otherwise you have no idea what you're getting is what you asked for. TOS is likely making a number of the bug fixes as well.
Yeah, TOS has had a DOM since early to mid-fall now. Also, just added artificial intelligence predictors if you're in to that sort of thing.
From the QuoteTracker website: "QuoteTracker is written in Delphi where as the error is a C++ error. The only things we use that are written in C++ are the Internet Explorer components and standard Windows components. "
Exactly. Dev Experts have definitely "developed the platform". Thinkorswim In-house people may do exactly as you suggest. Plus, the thinkorswim website is built using Java technologies so the in-house team may be working on that too. Lastly, with such a long-term and strategic relationship, it would make sense to have some Dev Experts people on-site at thinkorswim on an almost permanent basis - this kind of software does not get developed by communicating by e-mails and over the phone for five years.
As some have pointed out, TOSâs plans may be one thing now and then TD ends up changing things later, but the answers I received from Tom should lead us to believe that they will try as hard as possible to make us happy. Here are my 4 assumptions and his answers: Can you give me actual "official" answers to the following issues, or is it still up in the air? 1) My current very good commissions (for all products) and interest rates will not change at all after the merger. ***Done â it will not change 2) Futures, futures options, and FX trading will still be offered exactly as they are now after the merger even though TD has no ability or clearing setup to do so currently. ***Yes â nothing will change 3) The current TOS platform with all its quotes/charts/etc. will still be available after the merger at no extra cost. ***yes â but we plan to make it better 4) The quote and chart speed will be the same after the merger. ***It should be faster â we are about to launch our own quote deliver system
I don't really have much to add to the discussion except to say that I have accounts at Charles Schwab, Interactive Brokers, and most recently Thinkorswim. Here are my observations: - TOS's trading plaform is highly intuitive. it is extremely easy to understand and tap its features. Schwab's Streetsmart Pro is a joke, and hasn't been upgraded in ages. IB's Traderworkstation is a mishmash of a ton of trade execution features, but not much thought seems to have gone into making it intuitive or easy to use. IB's TWS programmers haven't given much thought to end userability. Whoever designed IB's TWS charting components need to be taken out, shot, then lynched, and _then_ have the corpse lashed 400 times. with the remaining bones thrown to the wolves. It is pure abomination and hell. I estimate IB TWS's charting capability decreases traders' IQ by 50%. - TOS's trading platform, as far as I can tell, is the only platform that wil work behind a corporate firewall. This may only be important for those drawing a 2-week paycheck from a day job to pay for their daytrading addictions. I've tried Streetsmart Pro, Tradestation, IB's TWS -- none of them work behind a corporate firewall -- except TOS's platform - One thing about TOS's software platform -- it's just so damn sexy. Once you understand it, the look and feel of it entices / seduces you to trade. If you are a poor trader, having TOS is actually a bad idea -- it will cause you to over-trade. - I rely on Demark's TD Sequential, Combo and Setup Trend indicators. TOS's sotfware platform is the only retail platform that has an implementation (albeit imperfect) of TD Sequential. Demark's indicators cost hundreds or thousands of dollars _per month_ on professional platforms such has CQG or Bloomberg. I am praying that TOS will continue to implement the rest of Demark's indicators. This may be of zero interest to people on this board, as it seems to be mostly retail traders who don't bother or undertand what Demark indicators can do. - Trading option combinations is a joy on TOS's platform. IB's option commission is much cheaper than TOS's (I pay $1.25 per option all-in using TOS), but I still trade options on TOS's platform for the pure userability and intuitive interface, not to mention the easy to understand option analyatical features. - TOS's Penson monthly statement is an abomination on par with IB's charting abomination. Whoever designed TOS's Penson statements should suffer the same treatment as IB TWS's chart component programmers (see above). - My Charles Schwab account has laid dormant since I started trading with TOS. But Charles Schwab apparently didn't care -- they really don't have much use for traders, apparently. In fact, I once wrote a letter to Charles Schwab and implored them to emulate what TOS is doing, and they essentially told me to funk off. I use IB mainly as a back-up and trade ETFs with it. TOS's stock commission is still too expensive for active trading in stocks. I am crossing my fingers and praying that TOS will delay the big coporate bureacratic scloerosis and arrogance as long as possible. But I have no illusion that eventually all good things end. Then I move to another platform.