SOAP - What's the point?

Question

I mean, really, what is the point of SOAP?

Web services have been around for a while, and for a while it seemed that the terms \'SOAP\' and \'Web service\' were largely

Answer 1

Well it appears now that the WSI agree that SOAP no longer has a point as they have announced they will cease to exist as an independent entity.

Interesting article about the announcement and some commentary here: http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/simon-says/2010/11/the-end-of-the-road-for-web-services/index.htm

Edited to be completely accurate in response to John Saunders.