Frequently Asked Questions
How it works
Support
Payment
Security
Service
How it works
What is a web service?
A web service is a managed interface for allowing the consumption of data from any platform or using any code. A detailed overview of a web service can be found at Wikipedia.
Why should I use web services?
Web services are the glue that sticks your unconnected applications together. Think of your IT system like the London underground, the Bart or the New York Metro, the stations being applications, the passengers being your data. Your data has to be carried safely between each application, so trains (the web services) are there to do that for you. Web services allow different applications from different sources to communicate with each other without time-consuming custom coding.
How do I use TheWebService?
TheWebService can be used with a three stage process: search for a web service, generate the code and then use it! There is a mixture of existing web services and it is also possible to create your own web services by uploading your own data into MyTables.
What are MyTables?
MyTables have been designed to quickly create your own database tables. Once you've added your columns, CRUD web services with 12 different end points and full documentation are auto-generated for you to consume.
Why should I use MyTables when I can use MySQL or SQL server instead?
Traditional database engines are excellent for powering single applications, but as soon as you need to start managing, publishing and sharing your data, things get complicated. MyTables is better suited for applications where data is shared and consumed more widely and you want your application up and running in minutes, not weeks.
I have a dataset that I'd like to make publicly available ? what do I do?
This functionality is certainly on its way and will be available in Q4 of 2008. Until then, why not post your idea in the ideas exchange?
What are keys and why do I need them?
Keys are important - you use them to access the web services (you don't use your account and password - the separation is deliberate and improves security!).
You can create as many keys as you like. Each key has its own name and security settings, so it's easier to track your usage and control access to services. For example, you may want to create a key for each website, user or application.
A key containx 16 case sensitive letters and numbers separated by hyphens.
Where do I view usage reports?
Once you are logged in to your account (My Account) you have access to recent usage charts as well as more detailed historical usage reports.
Support
What level of support do you provide?
At TheWebService we're committed to providing the highest quality products for the smallest possible cost. We currently support a global customer base via the developer forums and email support.
Where do I report a bug?
Please report any bugs here. Like any new service, we're still ironing out the last few creases in our software so please bear with us!
Is there documentation for your web services?
Yes, we have a comprehensive set of documentation as well as code samples in 13 languages for consuming the web services. You can find the full documentation with each web service in the web services directory.
Where do I suggest a feature request?
You can suggest new features in the ideas exchange. You can also vote on other ideas that you think will be useful.
I need a refund, what do I do?
You can contact us here and we'll be happy to help.
I'm not happy with the service provided, who do I contact?
You can let us know of any complaints that you have and we'll do our best to help you out.
Payment
Note: many of the questions relating to payment can be answered with our guide to pricing.
What methods of payment do you support?
We currently support card payments including Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, American Express, Switch and Solo. We're not able to accept invoice payments at this time.
How does pricing work?
Pricing with TheWebService is easy to understand. Each web service clearly lists the price per use for each plan. All our plans have a minimum daily spend and a minimum top-up amount. Our entry plans
have the lowest minimum daily charge and the lowest top-up while our enterprise plans give you the best possible price per transaction.
How much do you charge?
The cost depends on what service you are using and how much you are using it. The cost for each look-up is shown clearly on each documentation page in the web services directory. You can also get an overview of our rates here.
How do I know how much credit I have?
You are able to see the amount of available credit on your account at any point as your balance is prominently displayed on the website once you have logged on.
Security
What information do you hold on my account?
We only hold basic contact details which enable us to efficiently manage your account. View our security policy.
How secure are my credit card details?
Very. We do not see any of the credit card processing details as these are managed outside of our website by SECURETRADING. SECURETRADING is a well established online card processing business which acts for a number of large organisations and has been approved by our bankers HSBC plc.
Can anyone else use my account?
Your account code, password and keys protect you account, so it's important that you look after them. We have provided a number of tools to help you manage and protect your account keys. These can be found in the account section once you have logged on to the website.
Service
Where do you get your datasets from?
We obtain our datasets from various providers; for instance, the UK address data comes from the Royal Mail, worldwide geocoding and route planning comes from TeleAtlas and Europa Technologies and worldwide business data comes from Dun & Bradstreet.
How frequently are your datasets updated?
Most data providers supply us with updates either monthly or quarterly; others provide us with real-time updates.
Will I need to sign a license agreement to your datasets?
No. One of the attractive features of using a web-based product is its simplicity. With TheWebService you will not need to sign a license agreement, as control is based on usage and not on the number of users. Provided there is sufficient credit on your account, anyone who has access to your User ID and Account Key can use the software.
What is your average web service response time?
Depending on your location, between 0.2 and 0.4 seconds for a standard data fetch query. For more processor-intensive route optimization queries, the response times will increase.
Does it matter which operating system I am using?
No. Web services are based on universal formats meaning it doesn't matter whether you're using Windows, Unix, Linux or even a mobile OS ? you can still consume our web services.
