This example calculates the distance between zip code
The zip codes lookup up on a web services (SOAP) server and uses the longitude and latitude of each zip code to determine the distance between location and the city, and state of each zip code.
You might want to setup a SOAP server to provide data for your clients without having to give them direct access to your database or you may need to create a client application to access data provided by a partner's service.
"SOAP is often used in combination with SOAP and XML Schema to provide web services over the Internet. A client program connecting to a web service can read the WSDL to determine what functions are available on the server. Any special datatypes used are embedded in the WSDL file in the form of XML Schema. The client can then use SOAP to actually call one of the functions listed in the WSDL.WSDL is often used in combination with SOAP and XML Schema to provide web services over the Internet. A client program connecting to a web service can read the WSDL to determine what functions are available on the server. Any special datatypes used are embedded in the WSDL file in the form of XML Schema. The client can then use SOAP to actually call one of the functions listed in the WSDL."