If you have been around day trading for some time you know that many people always want new functionality on their software platforms. You may hear about the supposedly "latest and greatest" features on another software platform, and you want them thinking that they will give you the profitability you seek. And in some cases you may be right!
Remember, however, that new development is always a significant cost to the software firm. Like any other business, they need to understand that there is a good likelihood of a return on their investments and not just the perceived threat of losing a few customers. While threatening to walk away from the software platform, and maybe even the online broker who offers the platform, is the easy thing to do, remember that there are other costs involved with moving your account. You will have to spend time learning a new software package, lose trading days due to wiring the funds, get your paperwork signed and approved, etc.
Instead, try thinking like the software firm. If your friends (especially a consistently profitable trading friend) is using a piece of software which offers a piece of functionality which you don't have, such as the ability to create your own chart indicators or ability to get more data for the symbols, then follow these steps to have the best odds that your new development request will be given proper attention:
1) Find a third-party, objective piece of information citing that the new development is NOT just a request only for you. If you can find an article in a trading magazine, a well-respected online trading forum, or even an example from a trading book considered to be "one of the classics" then you will show the firm that your request is reasonable. Preferably, find multiple instances of respected, third-party sources backing up the need for your request. This shows the software firm that there is a greater likelihood that many people will need this new development, either to acquire new customers or prevent falling behind their industry competitors.
2) If their industry competitors have this particular piece of functionality, send the online trading software firm documentation showing that this is the case. When day trading software firms know that their rivals have a piece of functionality which they do not have AND the functionality is backed up by third-party, respected sources chances are that your software firm will take faster action.
3) Write a quick "spec" (short for "specification") which discusses what the request is and how it might appear on the software. While the actual spec will be written by the software firm's representatives and then sent to the programmers, helping the representative will go a long way toward having your request put near the top of the list.
To recap, if you want new development for your software find independent sources to back up your claim, show them how it can be used to attract new customers or at least prevent falling behind their competitors, and write a quick, basic spec with possible screenshot examples of what the new development is supposed to look like. While doing this is no guarantee that the online trading software firm will honor your request, it will impress them enough to take your future requests much more seriously.