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Simple Object Access Protocol Overview
To help developers build Web services and link heterogeneous components over the Internet, Microsoft® worked with industry experts to create the Simple Object Access Protocol. SOAP provides an open, extensible way for applications to communicate using XML-based messages over the Web, regardless of what operating system, object model or language particular applications may use. SOAP facilitates universal communication by defining a simple, extensible message format in standard XML and thereby providing a way to send that XML message over HTTP. Additional information on the SOAP specification can be found online at the MSDN® XML Developer Center 
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The SOAP technical article explains how SOAP provides a way to use the existing Internet infrastructure to enable heterogeneous systems to communicate directly with each other without being unintentionally blocked by firewalls.