I would like to ask you smart people if anyone has seen any documentation regarding web access to a database from within an Android application. I would like to create a (FREE) application where the users can share information (rants/complains) around the globe. Each user will be able to see a little globe in his phone with locations of other users and some specific information about them.
Architecturally, I am thinking "database in my GoDaddy host, exposing a web service", and the web service accessed from the Android application. But I see no documentation about accessing web services. I can also go XML, maybe, but I am not seeing what mechanisms exist in the Android for over-the-web XML access.
I have a feeling I am mis-understanding something big in the picture. Can someone point me to docs, or knows something about this topic? (the iPhone has a Lighter app where you can see people lighting around the globe. Mine is similar, but people would not be lighting, instead they will be "complaining/ranting").