.NET and Java Open Clients can access an AppServer over the Internet using the AppServer Internet Adapter (AIA), which is a Java servlet running on a Web server that converts HTTP requests from Open Clients into direct requests from the AIA to the AppServer and returns the results back to the Open Client from the AppServer. As such, the AIA allows any AppServer client to access the AppServer from anywhere on the Internet.

SOAP Web service clients access the AppServer over the Internet using the Web Services Adapter (WSA), which is also a Java servlet running on a Web server that converts HTTP requests from Web service clients into direct requests from the WSA to the AppServer and returns the results back to the Web service client from the AppServer.

The difference between .NET/Java Open Clients and SOAP Web service clients accessing the AppServer over the Internet is in how the AppServer interface appears to the client. For .NET/Java Open Clients, the interface maps in "native mode" directly to the application service supported by the AppServer. For Web service clients, the interface maps to an industry-standard Web service interface, which in turn maps directly to the application service supported by the AppServer. Each type of client connects to the same functionality, regardless of the type of interface.