Web services allow different applications from different sources to communicate using common standards like XML, SOAP, WSDL and UDDI. They enable interoperability between distributed applications across diverse hardware and software. Web services use a common data model (XML) and can access applications through firewalls using web protocols. There are different styles of using web services including RPC, SOA and REST. OrangeScape's web services platform makes it easy to both expose and consume web services.