www.microsoft.com/mind/0100/soap/soap.aspThe Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) defines the use of XML and HTTP to access services, objects, and servers in a platform-independent manner. SOAP is a protocol that acts as the glue between heterogeneous software components. If developer can agree on HTTP and XML, SOAP offers a mechanism for bridging competing technologies in a standard way. The main goal of SOAP is to facilitate interoperability.www.develop.com/soap/www.develop.com/soap/soapfaq.htm