EDI over the internet

[alvin@xxxxxxxxx (alvin)]

Much has been spoken about EDI over the internet over the past weeks, and there has 
been some suggestions that some of you are involved in creating standards for it.

As I understand it, most businesses that use the internet now are sending EDI messages 
end to end, and is only limited to their TPs who have are setup in exactly the same 
manner as themselves, ie sending the EDI message over SMTP or FTP. Encryption methods 
will have to be the same as well, as both ends have to encode/decode the messages.

Unless most businesses follow the above standard procedures, there is no way they will 
start communicating over the internet anytime soon. Unless there are VANs out there 
which acts as a medium for VAN clients and Internet users. Which means, VAN clients 
can send messages to internet EDI users utilising the VAN, which in turn forwards the 
message to the internet, via SMTP or any method. And vice versa, messages sent by 
Internet EDI users will arrive at the VAN's SMTP gateway (or FTP server), which is 
then forwarded to the VAN client's mailbox.

Now, before we get into another flaming exercise, are there any VANs out there that 
support this kind of network structure, or at least an EDI engine that supports this.

If such a structure do exist, then can I know what VANs or VAN engines support this. 
Users on the VAN which want to retain their usage are able to, whilst giving them 
the ability to send to TPs using the internet. I'm considering purchasing one, and if 
there is one, please tell me. If there is none, please tell me too. I will be utterly 
disappointed if there is none, although I wouldn't be surprised.

Thanks in advance.

-- 
Alvin Yuen
Wildridge Technologies
Suite 9.1, Menara Aik Hua,
Changkat Raja Chulan,
50200 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA

Tel: +6-03-2022040
Fax: +6-03-2018085
mailto://alvin@wrt.po.my