Why the XML Web service is such a hot topic in the industry right now? Is it just some hype, or does it have a real value behind it?
Google (Search Web service), Amazon (for Associates, store building), Microsoft (MapPoint.NET), and many other already offer and support XML Web services. Using XML as Internet-based messaging, to integrate applications, is truly a valuable technology that offers a good ROI (considering other integration technologies and interoperability issues) and demands lower integration costs. In last two years, XML Web services received a good momentum, more and more vendors supported it, and surrounding standards were defined to close any lose gaps, making XML Web services quite a mature, low-risk technology , and think will continue in the coming years.
