SOAP
Similar in concept, yet far broader in scope and implication, is the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), an emerging W3C standard for decentralized information exchange between peers in a networked environment. Designed specifically for information transfer between distributed applications and objects built on different platforms, and layered (like XML-RPC) on XML and HTTP, SOAP has the support of industry heavyweights such as Microsoft, IBM, HP, Ariba, Lotus, and SAP, and is expected to shortly reach W3C Recommendation status.
SOAP is, fundamentally, a framework for stateless data exchange between systems. It is a specification for the creation of structured, typed data packets designed for easy transmission across a network. As of this ...