Microsoft SOAP Toolkit can be used to add XML Web Service functionality to COM components and applications. It is a lightweight and simple XML-based protocol that is designed to exchange structured and typed information on the Web. The purpose is to enable rich and automated Web services based on a shared and open Web infrastructure. It can be used in combination with a variety of existing Internet protocols and formats including HTTP, SMTP, and MIME and can support a wide range of applications from messaging systems to RPC.