"Microsoft® .NET is a set of Microsoft software technologies
for connecting information, people, systems, and devices. It
enables a high level of software integration through the use
of Web services—small, discrete, building-block applications
that connect to each other as well as to other, larger applications
over the Internet. .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." -
www.microsoft.com