Comment by pjc50
Huh. In the UK we usually enter postcode plus house number and have the computer look up the rest of the address (even though that's a paid API).
Huh. In the UK we usually enter postcode plus house number and have the computer look up the rest of the address (even though that's a paid API).
It's still paid even if it's public. The difference is now the people who use it pay for it.
Also the entire database can be incorporated into things like FOSS map software, or free map data. Websites can have the DB stored locally so do not rely on an external API.
We would get more utility out of it that way.
We would also not have the extra cost from the profit made on selling the data.
I know what you mean, but it would also be of economic benefit if you worked for free and any downstream customers all got that discount of the profit you make from selling your time.
A UK post code is much more specific than a five digit zip code which might be one reason why.