This component provides SAP application developers with a simple way of integrating internal and external sending into their applications. Business Communication Services (BCS) are used not only for controlling sending and receipt, but also for extensive status handling and for making all the send information on an application object available.

In addition to interfaces without dialog, BCS also provide dialogs that enable you to preselect data required for the sending so that it can be stored temporarily or postprocessed.

Business Communication Services are the successor of the Business Communication Interface (BCI) and have the advantage of an object-oriented interface.

BCS can be used to send from SAP applications directly, but the Post Processing Framework and its predecessor Message Control, and SAP Smart Forms and their predecessor SAPscript also use BCS or their predecessor BCI.

BCS support the functions provided by BCI, and others:

• Sending objects with attachments and notes
• Sending to internal and external recipients, including organizational units, address objects and other objects that support the interface IF_RECIPIENT_BCS
• Sending in all communication methods supported by the SAP System (fax, Internet, remote mail, SMS/paging, printing)
• Sending with all send attributes (express, copy, blind copy, and no forwarding)
• Automatic moving of the document sent to any folder in the Business Workplace
• Relating the application object to documents sent

• Sending under another name
• Active status handling
• Receiving faxes and Internet messages, including possible inbound processing, for example direct forwarding or starting a workflow
• Dialog interfaces for:

The new interface offers the following extra functions in Release 6.10:

• Support of any document storage options, and recipient and sender addresses
• Exit functions in inbound processing