[FX.php List] OT: PHP & Using Soap for (County, State)

[David Ness]

Yesterday I attempted by first FX.php AJAX coding, and managed to get it
all working in under 2 hours. Yea! It was a simple function; looking up
and displaying an address' COUNTY based upon a zip code entered. 

I have a subscription to a ZIP code database ($40/year) that I import
into FileMaker, but I started to wonder if this might be a chance to
implement my first SOAP solution
(http://www.w3schools.com/soap/soap_intro.asp) whereby I could have
AJAX/PHP query an external data source with the ZIP code and retrieve
back COUNTY, STATE & CITY information. I'd need a reliable, up-to-date,
(and free) data source, and was hoping for something like a Google API.
I did find http://www.strikeiron.com/ProductDetail.aspx?p=306, but this
isn't free.

Anybody have any thoughts, experience, or comments on SOAP?

--
David Ness,
Database Systems Programmer
 
Bonded Builders Warranty Group
1500 Kings Highway
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
800.749.0381 x3123 (National Toll Free)
941.255.3274 x3123 (Local)