I am thinking of creating a public web app, which reads data from an internal Sharepoint. Can that work? Because I heard you need a public internet facing license if you want to make sharepoint as a website. If i just query data from it, I assume that's fine right?....The only thing i guess is I have to set this website on the same box as where the Sharepoint is... Am i right>?

You will very likely be in breach of SharePoint licensing. The data you will be accessing will be stored in SharePoint systems/databases and will therefore be in need of licensing. By accessing them from an Internet program you are making that SharePoint data available in the Internet and so imo will require some form of licensing. Contact your local Microsoft licensing expert. It may be that you will get away with only needing a Internet Server license (ca 2K) rather than that plus a MOSS Internet access license (much more). Note: All licensing information posted in threads is without guarantee - always check information you receive here (from anyone) with a MS licensing specialist - preferably one specialising in SP licensing. SP 2010 "FAQ" (mainly useful links): http://wssv4faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx WSS3/MOSS FAQ (FAQ and Links) http://wssv3faq.mindsharp.com/default.aspx Both also have links to extensive book lists and to (free) on-line chapters

Aside from any licensing issues, you could use built in SharePoint web services to extract the list data (http://yoursite/_vti_bin/lists.asmx). Make sure whatever domain accoutn is being used in your application pool (for your public web app) has access to the SharePoint list items you are querying.- Xenox G.

Mike, what about using WSS for it? I thought WSS is free? hence i can use it as website database? Xenox... any examples of calling the web services with authentication? Can't seem to work it out how.

Xenox... any examples of calling the web services with authentication? Can't seem to work it out how. Hi there, I do have an example, but then this answer would be better housed in the 'Development and Programming' forum. Check out the following link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms440289(v=office.12).aspx If your code calling the web service is being run in a web app, the key is making sure that your web application's application pool service account (in IIS) must have access to the SharePoint site and list items you are trying to access. - Xenox G.