Message Converter for Bloomberg

Bloomberg® & the Message Converter

Global Relay's Message Converter offers the downloading of Bloomberg Mail for compliance. Our Message Converter for Bloomberg provides full conversion and import capabilities for retention and management of Bloomberg Mail in Global Relay's Message Archiver, or to a third-party archive.

About Bloomberg Mail

Bloomberg Mail enables Bloomberg customers to communicate electronically. Currently, Bloomberg Mail includes:

  1. Instant Bloomberg (IB -- instant messaging between Bloomberg users);
  2. Bmail (email sent between Bloomberg users); and
  3. Internet Mail (Bloomberg email sent to outside email addresses and visa versa).

About Bloomberg Mail & Compliance Archiving

Compliance regulations such as SEC Rule 17a-4, FINRA Rules 3010 & 3110 and IDA Bylaw 29.7 require electronic business communications, including Bloomberg Mail, to be archived and monitored for compliance purposes.

Company email policies also often require all business communications to be retained for litigation, monitoring and internal purposes. Bloomberg Mail is converted into XML messages that are imported and consolidated in the Message Archiver, with all other email and IM of an organization, for easy online search, retrieval and monitoring.

Global Relay's Message Converter for Bloomberg Archiving

  1. The Bloomberg Message is a "pull technology" meaning, on a nightly basis, Global Relay's Message Converter automatically logs into the Bloomberg FTP site and downloads a copy of all new and available Bloomberg files and forwards them to the Message Archiver (note: Global Relay's Message Converter for Bloomberg does not delete files from the Bloomberg FTP site, it only downloads a copy).
  2. The Message Archiver parses, converts and reconstructs the Bloomberg files into a readable format before routing them to the import queues for archive indexing and processing whereby the Bloomberg messages are time/date stamped, serialized and written to a dedicated customer WORM drive.
  3. Once imported, Bloomberg Messages can be searched, viewed, monitored and retrieved from the Message Archiver in the same manner as email and IM.
  4. Alternatively, the Message Converter can also forward the converted Bloomberg XML to a third-party archive.

Configuration Details

FTP download setup is simple. For technical details visit our Message Converter support for Bloomberg.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?

  1. Contact Bloomberg and obtain your company's Bloomberg FTP login account information. This will consist of a host, username and password.
  2. Download and complete the Direction & Authorization for Bloomberg Download and Archiving form after signup. Global Relay will then provision the Message Converter for Bloomberg capture and notify your company of the implementation date.

How does Bloomberg Message File Transfer work?

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a widely used way of transferring computer files from one computer to another. Bloomberg will, upon request, upload all available Bloomberg Mail to the Bloomberg FTP site on a nightly basis for archiving purposes. Global Relay's Message Converter for Bloomberg automatically logs into the Bloomberg FTP site and downloads a copy of all new and available Bloomberg files and forwards them to the Message Archiver. The lifecycle of Bloomberg files on the FTP site may vary (contact Bloomberg for details).

Where can I view my Archived Bloomberg Messages?

To view the Bloomberg Messages in the Message Archiver, choose "Bloomberg" from the Folder list on the main Search page. Once you conduct a search, you will see Bloomberg Messages on the Results page. Bloomberg is distinguished from other IM types in the Archive by the following icon:

Is Global Relay able to archive our old Bloomberg Messages?

Global Relay will archive all messages that are on the Bloomberg FTP site that Bloomberg provides to you. Global Relay is also able to transfer and import legacy Bloomberg Mail stored internally with the Customer or with Bloomberg.

What if Bloomberg changes its format?

The Bloomberg files are in a proprietary format and may consist of plain text or XML files. Global Relay currently supports all Bloomberg Messaging formats and continues to adapt to any changes in Bloomberg formats and processes if and when they occur.

Disclaimer: Global Relay's Message Converter only converts files that are made available by Bloomberg LP, and technically able to be downloaded. The Bloomberg FTP processes are subject to change at any time without notice to Global Relay as there is no legal affiliation between Global Relay and Bloomberg. Download of Bloomberg Mail is under the express direction of the customer. The Bloomberg® name is the sole property of Bloomberg LP.