1.6 Applicability Statement

Use of the IMDA protocol extensions is suitable when access to XML representations of identity objects by means of a WS-Transfer is required and that access needs to be performed at a level of granularity less than the entire identity object's representation. IMDA cannot be used independently of WS-Transfer, so it might not be applicable in applications that have already standardized on a protocol other than WS-Transfer for providing access to a directory service. It might also not be useful in applications where the directory objects are represented using a means other than XML.<2>