Amazon: Web Site To Web Services

"The flexibility of Web services means that developers can create custom interfaces to the Amazon product catalog, leaving the order processing to Amazon. It also means that online retailers that were once Amazon's competitors can become its partners instead, setting up shop online without having to duplicate Amazon's technology platform, distribution infrastructure, or customer service facilities. For Amazon, it serves as a long-term strategic lever, connecting the company as directly as possible to sources of innovation and creativity all over the world."