It is a platform independent and language independent.
SOAP de-couples the encoding and communications protocol from the runtime environment.
Web service can obtain or receive a SOAP payload from a remote service, and the platform information of the source are entirely unrelated.
Anything can generate an XML, from Perl scripts to C++ code to J2EE app SERVERS.
To send and receive messages it uses XML.
It uses standard internet HTTP protocol.
SOAP runs over HTTP; it eradicates FIREWALL problems. When using protocol HTTP as the protocol binding, an RPC call maps AUTOMATICALLY to an HTTP request and an RPC response maps to an HTTP response.
Compared to RMI, CORBA and DCOM SOAP is very simple.
A protocol for moving information in a distributed and decentralized environment.
SOAP is the transport protocol independent and can be availed in co-ordination with a VARIETY of PROTOCOLS.