Re: Wal Mart AS2 issue

["Patrick Townsend" <patownsend@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Carl,

I took this question to GXS on Friday afternoon and got an update from them
today. GXS (formerly GE Information Services) has *just* been approved as a
third party AS2 outsourcer for Walmart. This just happened so you were quite
correct in your message last week. But things are changing fast! Here is a
recap from my source at GXS (some summarization done for clarity):

=====>
Walmart have opened their doors to allow GXS be an AS2 outsourcing provider
for Walmart's suppliers.  Our customers can elect GXS to be their AS2
outsourcing solution.  Walmart also stated that they will soon setup GXS on
their Retail*Link site to log on and request a test date on our customers
behalf. Until that happens GXS customers should continue to go to the web
site on Retail*Link, request a test date with GXS resources identified as
technical contacts and GXS as their AS2 provider.

Walmart did say they had resource issues for implementation and are looking
at beginning of February to increase their ramping capabilities. Expect this
type of lead time to begin testing.
<======

Given the costs associated with AS2 software I think the GXS solution will
make a lot of sense for many AS/400 users. You can continue use your normal
EDI translator and deploy a dial or secure Internet connection to GXS. GXS
will provide the AS2 interface to Walmart.

Disclaimers:  We do not have any financial relationship with GXS. As you are
probably aware we do sell AS/400 software that provides secure Internet
communications with GXS (and other Value Added Networks). We also sell EDI
translation software.

Hope this helps.

Patrick


----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Galgano" <cgalgano2@ediconsulting.com>
To: <midrange-l@midrange.com>
Sent: Friday, December 13, 2002 12:55 PM
Subject: RE: Wal Mart AS2 issue


> Patrick:
> This is not true.  We are currently working with many of our EDI clients
> that need to do AS2 comm with Walmart.  We kicked around the idea of
> providing a BSC to AS2 gateway for Walmart, but, we have been told that
> Walmart will ONLY allow a 3rd party to do the AS2 communications if that
> party is ALSO the EDI outsourcer.  They do not want to have to deal with
> one vendor for AS2 and another for EDI.
> cjg
>
> Carl J. Galgano
> EDI Consulting Services, Inc.
> 550 Kennesaw Avenue, Suite 800
> Marietta, GA  30060
> (770) 422-2995 - voice
> (419) 730-8212 - fax
> mailto:cgalgano@ediconsulting.com
> http://www.ediconsulting.com
> AS400 EDI, Networking, E-Commerce and Communications Consulting and
> Implementation
> http://www.icecreamovernight.com
> Premium Ice Cream Brands shipped Overnight
>
> "You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know" - rw
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
> [mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Townsend
> Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 10:08 PM
> To: midrange-l@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: Wal Mart AS2 issue
>
>
> You might take a look at the GXS web site (this is the new site for GE
> Information Services). They indicate that you can use them as a gateway
> for Walmart AS2. I believe IBM Global Network may also have a solution
> in their IDDX or Internet Gateway service. We support SSL connections to
> IBM but have not tried their gateway.
>
> Patrick
>
>
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