Windows Services a little different

Hi folks,
I am using srvany.exe to start a c++ application as a service. My application should then start two, three or however many instances of another c++ app which communicates with a server. Everything seems to work, the first app starts, it starts the second app and then the second app just sits there. It doesn't do anything. No connection, no response ...
I know both apps work, since they also run as non-service programs. Anybody any clues, experiences, ideas ...?

Thx,
Alex