Web Services

Unlike other e-business integration concepts to date, Web Services promise to provide flexible cross platform communication, therby easing integration issues between systems as well as reducing interoperability challenges for users. Web Services connect computers and devices with each other using the Internet to exchange data and combine data in new ways, thus enabling on-the-fly business relations to a much greater extent than before. It is no surprise that Web Services are said to have an impact on the future development of the Internet as a means for conducting business transactions. The possibility to be able to cost-efficiently ans easily integrate heterogeneous IT systems seems to be very tempting, compared to "traditional" integration methods where such systems could be interconnected only with huge development efforts. The objective of the study is to discuss the potentials ascribed to Web Services. The study will illustrate the technological and conceptual elements that constitute Web Services in order to provide a common understanding of the nature of this novel approach and then elaborate on important security and quality issues related with the Web Services concept.