can i search for mac addresses on google maps

Unfortunately, postal authorities are the best (and often the only) sources of data against which to verify addresses, so there really isn't any other way to go about it. The reason address verification services are so expensive is that they require licenses and ongoing relationships with grumpy, bureaucratic postal authorities (including the Royal Mail). If I were in your shoes, though, I wouldn't go that route.

I suppose one workaround to the legal constraints of the Google or Yahoo! Maps APIs is to request your users verify their addresses on a map. Verifying addresses seems like a simple problem to tackle, but it's very much an iceberg. I completely understand where you're coming from. I am both a web developer and a former employee of one of the companies you mentioned. If you have the time, though, why not try implementing a Google-based solution then going from there? The API looks pretty slick, and it's free, after all. In other words, you get what you pay for ). If you paid for one of the services you mentioned, you would likely be able to receive support should certain addresses not resolve the way you expect them to. While you can certainly use the data for other purposes, you are at the mercy of Google should one of their maps not exactly correspond to your legal or commercial address validation needs. Note that Google's aim in providing the Maps API is to plot addresses on actual maps. If the address is not found (invalid), you will receive an appropriate response. You should be able to craft an XML message asking Google to return Map coordinates for a given address. The answer probably depends how critical it is for you to receive support and possible customization for this service.

Can i search for mac addresses on google maps