Web services provide a standardised way of integrating applications over the Internet using open protocols and interfaces. Enterprises can use web services technology for connecting IT systems with business partners and clients in order to exchange business data between disparate applications.
Web services enable data to be transferred between two different applications (eg: stock level monitoring system in a warehouse connecting to an invoicing application) over the Internet in a standard way. Applications negotiate a connection using web services standard protocols. Data is encoded in XML format and passed from one application to the other.
Using web services, servers can exchange data with other servers, with personal computers and with mobile devices.
Nokia is developing and implementing web services for Nokia smartphones powered by Symbian OS. This will make it easier to integrate mobile devices with business applications running on the enterprise intranet and business partners’ extranet. The Nokia web services framework for mobile devices is based on open standards, including Liberty Alliance specifications.