The current architecture for EDI and electronic trading communities is the largely proprietary wide area and
value-added networks run by a handful of telecommunications and computer giants.
International
value-added network services already exist for data interchange and electronic fund transfer.
With the growth in competition, the growing importance of
value-added networks, and the development of many types of business networks (such as computer reservation systems) that package market information together in closed, proprietary networks, fewer critical services are likely to fall within the traditional realm of common carriage.
As the number of partners grows, however, a
value-added network is worth considering.
Those tools include application software, which is the advertising/order entry, accounts payable and purchase order system; interface software, or the "bridge" program between application and translation software; translation software, which converts application data into an industry standard format; a
value-added network, which acts as an electric mailbox system; and communications software, which will handle the transmission of data to and from the VAN or directly to another computer.
Ramsey's employer, Electronic Data Systems Corporation, was recently awarded a contract to develop a
value-added network for TaxNet Governmental Communications Corporation.)
KMPS is a provider of
Value-Added Network (VAN) services, an authorisation switcher that provides a network between merchants and issuers, with a large-scale network in Korea.
"The portal allows for a seamless
Value-added network to Internet connection, as well as a variety of transport options.
As prices in the datacommunications market go into free fall, declining at a rate of 30%-35% a year, and the telcos continue their incursions into the
value-added network (VAN) services arena, so the VAN providers are being forced to adapt to the changing world.
Taxpayers that use a third party (such as a service bureau, time-sharing service,
value-added network or other third-party service) to provide services with respect to machine-sensible records are not relieved of these record-keeping obligations and responsibilities.
For example, the Minneapolis retailer is attaching all its retail divisions to a single
value-added network for electronic data interchange.