"Windows SharePoint Services is a Web-based team collaboration environment built on a highly reliable and manageable platform. It gives anyone with a Web browser the ability to create and access virtual workspaces for managing documents, discussions, lists, surveys and other important contextual information such as team member status and presence. Windows SharePoint Services provides an out-of-the-box solution for team collaboration, and because it is built on the Microsoft® .NET Framework, it provides a robust component-based platform for several applications. New functionality can be added to any Windows SharePoint Services site using server-side ASP.NET controls called Web Parts, a capability that makes Windows SharePoint Services the perfect platform for server applications such as SharePoint Portal Server. Windows SharePoint Services sites are accessible via a set of Web services, allowing the sites to connect directly with end-user productivity tools such as Microsoft Office. "