RE: Wal Mart AS2 issue -- MIDRANGE-L

Patrick:
Thanks for the info.  This is interesting.  I had hoped that we could
provide the gateway services, but at lease SOMEONE can.  I hope you
don't mind, but I am going to cross post this to an EDI list I subscribe
to.  I think the info will be very helpful and there is also a GXS guy
on there that can also confirm this.  I guess it wont hurt also to have
a plug in their for your comm solutions.  If I have any new relevant
info, I will send it to you.
Regards,
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



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



> 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