Opening up the data

That's right, I've opened up the database for TownRenowned via a public XML webservice. It is now possible for a developer to query/extract the same data you see on TownRenowned.com.

Why? TownRenowned.com's main goal is to help users find "hidden gems" in a given town through modern social tools like tagging and user reviews. The problem is - this social data must sit on top of a database of detailed information about every business and that is difficult for a handful of individuals to compile and maintain.

So to get this "platform of business data" I was faced with the following choices:

#1) License business data from a commercial provider.
#2) Ask the community to input and maintain this data.

Route 1 was way way too expensive, not to mention the data still needs to be maintained. I've chosen to do route two - however I couldn't do it with our existing business model. I can't ask local residents to input and maintain data and keep the rights to the data (and profits!) to myself.

So I'm providing this data under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence. Anyone is free to consume and remix this data for any purpose. My hope is that this will create even more tools to help the public.

This public API is first step towards TownRenowned.com's new business model. The second phase will be setting up a profit sharing system that helps support local charities and events to help cultivate even more "hidden gems". These changes will be coming in early 2008, so stay tuned!