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Ask HN: Who here would be interested in a free daily updated GeoIP database?

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Re: Ask HN: Who here would be interested in a free daily updated GeoIP database?

#31
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most geo data providers (like MaxMind) provide datafile downloads so you don't have to use an API.

Right, but those aren't usually free ;) On the other hand there are plenty of free (limited) APIs.

They do have a free version which is just a bit less accurate than the commercial version.

http://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/geoip2/downloadable/

Re: Ask HN: Who here would be interested in a free daily updated GeoIP database?

#32

In the EU, the sales tax now (I think, since this year) must be paid to the country, the buyer comes from (before, the sellers country was decisive). Also the height of the tax depends on this. So, at least in Europe there are plenty of small companies that could need such a thing, at least as long they don't have a payment-provider that handles the sales-tax for them. I myself, could also be interested, but I think,…

You almost certainly don't want to be using IP geolocation to compute sales tax, rather some kind of billing address explicitly provided by the customer.

Re: Ask HN: Who here would be interested in a free daily updated GeoIP database?

#33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, but those aren't usually free ;) On the other hand there are plenty of free (limited) APIs.

They do have a free version which is just a bit less accurate than the commercial version. http://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/geoip2/downloadable/

Oh, I didn't know that. How much less accurate? Will it accurately determine country of origin?

Re: Ask HN: Who here would be interested in a free daily updated GeoIP database?

#36

In the EU, the sales tax now (I think, since this year) must be paid to the country, the buyer comes from (before, the sellers country was decisive). Also the height of the tax depends on this. So, at least in Europe there are plenty of small companies that could need such a thing, at least as long they don't have a payment-provider that handles the sales-tax for them. I myself, could also be interested, but I think,…

You almost certainly don't want to be using IP geolocation to compute sales tax, rather some kind of billing address explicitly provided by the customer.

In that case, the customer could cheat. I am not totally sure about the current discussion on that, but the problem is, that you definitively can not rely on the address given of the customer, because in this case the customer will always give a country with the lowest sales tax. Also you must provide proofs for the location. The IP address is IMHO (and not only my opinion) better and will be more likely be recognized as proof instead of relying solely on some customer input.

But, you (because you are so sure about the best method) by sure know, that the laws are explicitly for non-physical goods, where no delivery-address must be provided, right?

Here is a link, how one company is doing it (forget about government information, they seldom go so much in details!): https://rachelandrew.co.uk/archives/2014/12/08/consensus-and...

They use the IP address to validate the user given address and for later proof.

BTW: Downvoting all the time does not help the discussion. I try to discuss this topic seriously and I was bringing some very relevant topic here, and am constantly downvoted. (It is not my fault, that the EU came up with such laws, and provide no useful guide how to implement it!)

Re: Ask HN: Who here would be interested in a free daily updated GeoIP database?

#37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They do have a free version which is just a bit less accurate than the commercial version. http://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/geoip2/downloadable/

Oh, I didn't know that. How much less accurate? Will it accurately determine country of origin?

Yes, it will

Re: Ask HN: Who here would be interested in a free daily updated GeoIP database?

#39
post #7

I'm not sure I want a free alternative. I want an inexpensive option that I'm pretty sure won't get acquired and shutdown, but also has reasonable enough revenue to remain in business, occasionally blessing me with new features. A free service like locationkit (seen here a few days ago IIRC) looks OK, and I'm reasonably sure it's supported by revenues for other services from the parent company. However, even that fee…

I agree, paying a small fee for it sounds good. However it might gain a lot of popularity and support if there is also a free version, e.g. for non-commercial purposes only and updated only once a year or so.

I would personally not want to pay up front without knowing anything about this database from a company (or private person) that only asks 5 bucks a year for it.

Re: Ask HN: Who here would be interested in a free daily updated GeoIP database?

#40
There seems to be heavy interest in a low-cost service, even free if it was sustainable. Just curious if anyone has seen innovative pricing around services, similar to how open-source software made expensive software much cheaper or free, where the vendor made the main "service/data" much less expensive but monetized in a different way.
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