W3C issue XML & SOAP standards guidelines

The W3C consortium, a body that develops internet accessibility standards, has released a new set of standards guidelines for use with XML and SOAP applications.

XML-binary Optimized Packaging (XOP), SOAP Message Transmission Optimization Mechanism (MTOM) and Resource Representation SOAP Header Block (RRSHB) are all designed to help bridge the use and development of binary data with XML.

This is important for addressing issues such as sending a video clip from a mobile device to a desktop PC, as lack of co-ordination between different software packages can make even this apparently simple act slow and difficult to manage.

Although intended as a work around, rather than a full fix, the W3C XML Binary Characterization Working Group is already looking into fully comprehensive ways in which XML and binary data can be better brought together.