The Microsoft® .NET Framework and Microsoft® Visual Studio.NET take advantage of XML and SOAP technologies to allow developers to create solutions with reach. SOAP is a simple and lightweight protocol with wide industry support. It is useful and usable for a wide variety of applications. SOAP and the .NET Frameworks are an easy and natural fit. SOAP was designed from the ground up to be an extremely simple protocol that can be implemented in a variety of ways for a variety of diff..