Embodiments of the present invention provide a connector adapted to convey data between a first application and a second application (or application components). The applications may be hosted by different computer systems interconnected by a communications link or network. The connector in addition to being interposed between the first and second application is adapted to communicate with one or more protocol handlers (wherein a protocol handler provides the formatting of data to conform with a specific protocol--e.g., HTTP, SOAP, etc.). The protocol handlers configure the connector thus allowing data received by the connector from the first application to be serviced (e.g., formatted) to conform to the protocol provided by the protocol handler which has been "plugged" into the connector.