Keeping Web Services in Perspective

The Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) defines a Web Service as a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network. A Web Service system benefits service providers by enabling the creation of new services through the blending of legacy, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Internet, IPTV, and other new and existing Service Delivery Platform (SDP) capabilities. It also enables quick reaction to market changes and lowers required service adoption thresholds. The use of Web Services allows service providers to reduce and simplify Operation Support System/Business Support System (OSS/BSS) integration time, abstract network capabilities (call control, presence, location), and create personalized and blended services (both internally and with third-party partners).