This is a soup-to-nuts reference guide on all aspects of Web Services - where Web Services is a fast emerging set of Internet-specific middleware technology to further promote the growth of all aspects of e-business via standardization, collaboration and "franchising." This book is best characterized as an executive brief for IT and senior management rather than a nuts-and-bolts technical guide for portal implementers. Think of it as the "Cliffs Notes on Web Services." Given this audience, the book consistently focuses on business needs, value propositions, ROI, proven solutions and actual examples of current implementations..