The service is based on the next generation Tandem fault tolerant hardware that performs the required functions on EDI transactions: parse, validate, account, store and distribute. Send/Receive codes, unique to each trading partner, function as the address mechanism for the EDI messages.

EDI receives and delivers messages via the Concert Packet Service, and Frame Relay. The Concert Packet Network (CPS) is one of the world's largest value added packet switched networks.

The EDI pricing structure is designed to be simple and easy to understand, so that costs are easy to manage. The detailed EDI billing and report documents provide data to enable customers to make the best use of their EDI service. These reports include information such as the number of interchanges sent to and from each of a customer's trading partners, etc. A customer can analyze exactly how cost-effective their EDI program is on a per-trading-partner basis.

Corporations that implement EDI solutions normally purchase EDI translation software. It serves the function of creating the outbound EDI transaction set, or message, from the sender's application software (the system that generates the company's purchase orders for example) by translating it into the agreed upon standard EDI format for that trading partner. Conversely, it interprets the transaction sets, or messages, received from trading partners from the standard agreed upon EDI format into one that the recipient's application software (inventory control for example) can recognize and execute.

The EDI service does not require or recommend any specific EDI translation software. Our carrier believes that specialized hardware, application, and industry needs cannot be effectively or economically addressed with a single software solution. No one software package can meet every-one's diverse needs. Therefore, our carrier has continued to focus on EDI data communications technology while working hand-in-hand with an increasing number of translation software vendors. However we do certify EDI translation software in an effort to assist our customers in their implementation plans. The carrier Translation Software Certification Program tests commercially available EDI translation packages, verifies their compatibility with the EDI network, and establishes a certified link between each translator and the EDI system.