JAXM is the official J2EE API used to make web service calls with a document style approach. Many of the web service platform providers now provide JAXM client-side routines. JAXM is one of the API’s in the Java Web Serviced Developer Pack.

From the Sun web site:
“The JavaTM API for XML Messaging (JAXM) Optional Package enables applications to send and receive document oriented XML messages using a pure Java API. JAXM implements Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) 1.1 with Attachments messaging so that developers can focus on building, sending, receiving, and decomposing messages for their applications instead of programming low level XML communications routines.

This version of the JAXM specification includes the notion of messaging Profiles. The intent is to establish a foundation for supporting a family of higher-level standards-based messaging protocols. An example of a Profile would be an implementation of ebXML Transportation, Routing, and Packaging Message Handling Service or the W3C's XMLP layered on JAXM. Consequently, Java technology developers using JAXM will have pluggable XML messaging capabilities.

These higher-level protocols frequently implement additional functionality beyond basic SOAP-based messaging. This additional functionality is often useful for scalable, robust, and secure messaging frequently required for reliable messaging applications.”

The JAXM API may be found here.

JAXM was created based on JSR-67.