Independent of Operating Systems

Since web services use XML based protocols to communicate with other systems, web services are independent of both operating systems and programming languages.

An application calling a web service will always send its requests using XML, and get its answer returned as XML. The calling application will never be concerned about the operating system or the programming language running on the other computer.

Benefits of Web Services


• Easier to communicate between applications
• Easier to reuse existing services
• Easier to distribute information to more consumers
• Rapid development

Web services make it easier to communicate between different applications. They also make it possible for developers to reuse existing web services instead of writing new ones.

Web services can create new possibilities for many businesses because it provides an easy way to distribute information to a large number of consumers. One example could be flight schedules and ticket reservation systems.

XML Based Web Protocols

Web services use the standard web protocols HTTP, XML, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI.

HTTP

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the World Wide Web standard for communication over the Internet. HTTP is standardized by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

XML

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a well known standard for storing, carrying, and exchanging data. XML is standardized by the W3C.

SOAP

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a lightweight platform and language neutral communication protocol that allows programs to communicate via standard Internet HTTP. SOAP is standardized by the W3C.

WSDL

WSDL (Web Services Description Language) is an XML-based language used to define web services and to describe how to access them. WSDL is a suggestion by Ariba, IBM and Microsoft for describing services for the W3C XML Activity on XML Protocols.

UDDI

UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration) is a directory service where businesses can register and search for web services.

UDDI is a public registry, where one can publish and inquire about web services.
________________________________________

.NET Web Services

Web services are small units of code built to handle a limited task.
________________________________________
What are Web Services?
• Web services are small units of code
• Web services are designed to handle a limited set of tasks
• Web services use XML based communicating protocols
• Web services are independent of operating systems
• Web services are independent of programming languages
• Web services connect people, systems and devices
________________________________________
Small Units of Code
Web services are small units of code designed to handle a limited set of tasks.
An example of a web service can be a small program designed to supply other applications with the latest stock exchange prices. Another example can be a small program designed to handle credit card payment.

.NET Software

.NET is a mix of technologies, standards and development tools
________________________________________
Windows.NET
Today, Windows 2000 and Windows XP form the backbone of .NET.
In the future, the .NET infrastructure will be integrated into all Microsoft's operating systems, desktop and server products.
Windows.NET is the next generation Windows. It will provide support for all the .NET building blocks and .NET digital media. Windows.NET will be self-supporting with updates via Internet as users need them.
________________________________________
Office.NET
A new version of Microsoft Office - Office.NET - will have a new .NET architecture based on Internet clients and Web Services.
With Office.NET, browsing, communication, document handling and authoring will be integrated within a XML-based environment which allow users to store their documents on the Internet.
________________________________________
ASP.NET
ASP.NET is the latest version of ASP. It includes Web Services to link applications, services and devices using HTTP, HTML, XML and SOAP.
New in ASP.NET:
• New Language Support
• Programmable Controls
• Event Driven Programming
• XML Based Components
• User Authentication
• User Accounts and Roles
• High Scalability
• Compiled Code
• Easy Configuration
• Easy Deployment
• Not ASP Compatible
• Includes ADO.NET

Visual Basic.NET

Visual Basic.NET has added language enhancements, making it a full object-oriented programming language.
________________________________________
SQL Server 2000

SQL Server 2000 is a fully web-enabled database.
SQL Server 2000 has strong support for XML and HTTP which are two of the main infrastructure technologies for .NET.
Some of the most important new SQL Server features are direct access to the database from a browser, query of relational data with results returned as XML, as well as storage of XML in relational formats.
________________________________________
Internet Information Services 6.0

IIS 6.0 has strong support for more programming to take place on the server, to allow the new Web Applications to run in any browser on any platform

NET Building Blocks

.NET Building Blocks is a set of core Internet Services.
________________________________________
Web Services
Web Services provide data and services to other applications.
Future applications will access Web Services via standard Web Formats (HTTP, HTML, XML, and SOAP), with no need to know how the Web Service itself is implemented.
Web Services are main building blocks in the Microsoft .NET programming model.
________________________________________
Standard Communication
Official Web standards (XML, UDDI, SOAP) will be used to describe what Internet data is, and to describe what Web Services can do.
Future Web applications will be built on flexible services that can interact and exchange data, without the loss of integrity.
________________________________________
Internet Storages
.NET offers secure and addressable places to store data and applications on the Web. Allowing all types of Internet devices (PCs, Palmtops, Phones) to access data and applications.
These Web Services are built on Microsoft's existing NTFS, SQL Server, and Exchange technologies.
________________________________________
Internet Dynamic Delivery
Reliable automatic upgrades by demand and installation independent applications.
.NET will support rapid development of applications that can be dynamically reconfigured.
________________________________________
Internet Identity
.NET supports many different levels of authentication services like passwords, wallets, and smart cards.
These services are built on existing Microsoft Passport and Windows Authentication technologies.
________________________________________
Internet Messaging
.NET supports integration of messaging, e-mail, voice-mail, and fax into one unified Internet Service, targeted for all kinds of PCs or smart Internet devices.
These services are built on existing Hotmail, Exchange and Instant Messenger technologies.
________________________________________
Internet Calendar
.NET supports Internet integration of work, social, and private home calendars. Allowing all types of Internet devices (PCs, Palmtops, Phones) to access the data.
These services are built on existing Outlook and Hotmail technologies.
________________________________________
Internet Directory Services
.NET supports a new kind of directory services that can answer XML based questions about Internet Services, far more exactly than search engines and yellow pages.
These services are built on the UDDI standard.

.NET Framework

The .NET Framework is the infrastructure for the new Microsoft .NET Platform.
The .NET Framework is a common environment for building, deploying, and running Web Services and Web Applications.
The .NET Framework contains common class libraries - like ADO.NET, ASP.NET and Windows Forms - to provide advanced standard services that can be integrated into a variety of computer systems.
The .NET Framework is language neutral. Currently it supports C++, C#, Visual Basic, JScript (The Microsoft version of JavaScript) and COBOL. Third-party languages - like Eiffel, Perl, Python, Smalltalk, and others - will also be available for building future .NET Framework applications.
The new Visual Studio.NET is a common development environment for the new .NET Framework. It provides a feature-rich application execution environment, simplified development and easy integration between a number of different development languages.
________________________________________
Additional Information
• The .NET plan includes a new version of the Windows operating system, a new version of Office, and a variety of new development software for programmers to build Web-based applications.
• The background for .NET is part of Microsoft's new strategy to keep Windows the dominant operating system in the market, as computing begins to move away from desktop computers toward Internet enabled devices, such as hand-held computers and cell phones.
• The most visual components of the new .NET framework are the new Internet Information Server 6.0, with ASP.NET and ADO.NET support, Visual Studio.NET software tools to build Web-based software, and new XML support in the SQL Server 2000 database.
• Bill Gates is supervising the .NET project.
________________________________________

.NET Internet Standards

.NET is built on the following Internet standards:
-----------------------------------------------------------
• HTTP, the communication protocol between Internet Applications
• XML, the format for exchanging data between Internet Applications
• SOAP, the standard format for requesting Web Services
• UDDI, the standard to search and discover Web Services

Microsoft. NET

The Microsoft. NET strategy was presented by Microsoft officials to the rest of the world in June 2000:
• .NET is Microsoft's new Internet and Web strategy
• .NET is NOT a new operating system
• .NET is a new Internet and Web based infrastructure
• .NET delivers software as Web Services
• .NET is a framework for universal services
• .NET is a server centric computing model
• .NET will run in any browser on any platform
• .NET is based on the newest Web standards