Introduction

Web Services have been receiving a lot of publicity. While the whole .NET Framework represents a compelling reason to switch to .NET, XML Web Services is certainly a gem in the .NET crown.

XML Web Services are based on open technologies and will help you offer simple services to customers, support application integration between systems, and provide workflow solutions for your enterprise. Of course, before you can appreciate Web Services it is necessary to understand XML Web Services and the open standards technologies that form the underpinnings.

Chapter 13 provides you with a solid foundation in consuming and building XML Web Services. After reading this chapter, you will have a better understanding of how to use Web Services, and more importantly, you will be armed to convince your peers, managers, and customers of the technical advantages of XML Web Services.