The Elements of .NET

Defining the Basic Elements of .NET

.NET is infused into the products that make up the Microsoft platform, providing the ability to quickly and reliably build, host, deploy, and utilize connected solutions using Web services, all with the protection of industry-standard security technologies.

Smart Clients 

"Smart" client application software and operating systems enable PCs and other smart computing devices to act on Web services, allowing anywhere, anytime access to information.

Smart Clients: Combining the Power of the PC with the Reach of the Web

Today, most businesspeople work on PCs that provide access to information, applications, and resources far beyond the boundaries of their local machine. There are limits, however. Some computing tasks require robust functionality that can only be provided efficiently by "rich" client applications that reside on the local computer. A challenge arises when your organization requires both the flexibility and immediacy that comes with online access to data and applications, and the full functionality of traditional client software. The answer: smart client software.

Web Services are the Foundation of Smart Client Applications:

The starting point for understanding smart client software is Web services They help businesses overcome a number of critical issues. Web services are the magic behind smart client software. Web services enable desktop applications to more easily exchange information with server-based applications. Web service can minimize the time-consuming and error prone process of cutting and pasting data between application.

Smart client software can be deployed from a centralized Web server. Once deployed, smart client/customer software application can automatically update themselves to the latest version of software that resides on the centralized server.

Supports working with offline:

With smart client technology, users can work with data even when they are not connected to the Internet or the network that hosts the Web service. Because all or part of the application logic sits on the local computer, smart clients can deliver useful functionality even while offline.

Smart Client applications can be tailored to run on a range of devices, including personal digital assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones. This new technology enables software designed for larger systems to run on smaller devices.

Smart Clients in Action:

Using a Smart Client application, an insurance agent in the field who doesn't have Internet access can enter data directly into a line-of-business application on a laptop computer. When she returns to the office and connects her laptop to the Internet, she can upload that data directly to the corporate database. Because the Smart Client application is based on a Web service, data can move between the corporate and field systems even if they are built on different platforms or with different languages.

Web Services

• Web services allow applications to share data.

• Web services are discrete units of code; each handles a limited set of tasks.

• They are based on XML, the universal language of Internet data exchange, and can be called across platforms and operating systems, regardless of programming language.

Web services are reusable pieces of software that interact programmatically over the network through industry recognized standards (XML and SOAP). Web services can be combined with each other and other applications to build intelligent interactive .NET experiences.

What's the difference between a Web service and a website?

Unlike websites, which are pictures of data designed to be viewed in a browser by a person, a Web service is designed to be accessed directly by another service or software application.

Web Services: A Universal Language

Web services let applications share data, and—more powerfully—invoke capabilities from other applications without regard to how those applications were built, what operating system or platform they run on, and what devices are used to access them. Although Web services remain independent of each other, they can loosely link themselves into a collaborating group that performs a particular task.

Web services also make it possible for developers to choose between building all pieces of their applications, or consuming (using) Web services created by others. This means that an individual company doesn't have to supply every piece for a complete solution.

.NET Momentum

The business world is characterized by rapid change, unexpected shifts, and relentless competition. In this environment, companies need the ability to adapt quickly to change, to use change as an advantage. Web service–based connectivity through .NET offers businesses a flexible, responsive IT architecture that empowers them to reach their potential.

Getting connected with .NET

.NET connects a broad range of personal and business technologies so that you can access and use important information, whenever and wherever it is needed to increase productivity..NET enables both new and existing applications and systems to connect with software and services across platforms and programming languages.

The result: an integrated, cost-effective IT architecture that empowers your business.

Information that once was isolated in back-end systems is now available to every employee.

What .NET Means for Business?

With .NET-connected software and services, businesses can realize improvements in the time and cost associated with developing and maintaining their business

applications, as well as benefiting from empowering employees with the ability to act on vital information anywhere, from any smart device.

• .NET will deliver best of breed integration for businesses.

• Exposing Web services increases potential reach and exposure, creating new business opportunities.

• .NET promises substantial savings in development costs, as well as creating new revenue streams, through the use of Web services.

Integration

Web services offer a direct means by which business processes can interact. Applications hosted internally, as well as on remote systems, can be stitched together, allowing businesses to program the Web—quickly and economically. Web services offer incredible value to organizations. They present the opportunity to bridge applications and information written in different programming languages and residing on differing platforms. Not only can companies more easily integrate internal applications, they can also access services offered by other businesses.

Four Ways .NET Can Improve Your Business:

.NET offers businesses the opportunity to increase operating profits, decrease costs, and connect with customers and employees. Here are four ways .NET can help your business today.

Lower Operating Costs

.NET-connected software can help bridge the communication gap among smaller partners who never adopted EDI(Electronic Data Interchange).NET-connected software is built on Web service standards, which enables both new and existing applications to connect with software and services across platforms, applications, and programming languages.

Drive More Sales

.NET connects sales professionals with the information they need and provides businesses with the opportunity to increase revenue and create new business opportunities.

Integrate Better with Customers

Increasing revenue can be a tough challenge for any company. Most businesses derive more revenue by finding more customers, providing better customer service, and selling more to existing customers..NET can help companies meet this challenge by enabling them to more easily integrate services and applications.

Lower IT Costs

.NET and the .NET Framework empower developers to quickly and easily create cutting-edge Web services and applications, building on their existing skill sets. Seamless deployment, in addition to the ability to use existing Web services, presents substantial savings opportunities, increases productivity, saving both time and money for the corporate IT department.

What .NET Means for IT Professionals?

.Net technologies offer information technologies professionals far-reaching benefits from accelerating and improving daily operations to providing advanced capabilities for deploying next-generation technologies. The .NET Framework is the programming model underlying .NET for developing, deploying, and running Web services and applications.

One of the most significant advantages of the .NET Framework is its level of interoperability with other language, applications, and systems.

.NET enables current modern software applications to communicate through standard Internet protocols such as XML and SOAP, creating a channel through which internal and remote systems can easily interact.

.NET reduces the guesswork of many IT management tasks by:

Helping to streamline deployment.

Enabling interoperability with diverse systems, including legacy systems.

Helping to enhance security.

Reliably connecting and supporting both stationary and mobile devices.

.NET and Computer Security

Security and privacy are a central part of creating and delivering compelling user experiences. .NET is built from the ground up with security in mind. Coupled with good operational practices by individuals and administrators, it provides the basis for a computing experience that helps users control their personal and business information.