TheBeginer

Hi All, I have a very basic question on integrating two applications of different technologies. Let's take a web and a mainframe application, and we all know this could be integrated through 'web services'. But is it possible to integrate these two applications without using webservices; i.e. by using a simple XML and having a parser program at both the ends? Is it possible to build a online or batch interface using XMLs in above case, if yes, any specific factors related to technology should be take care? Thank you.