Melissa Data Introduces SOAP Interface for Data Quality Web ServiceReal-time validation of address and phone data helps business users improve the quality of customer leads RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA, May 5, 2004 - Melissa Data, a leading provider of data quality software and services, today introduced a SOAP interface for its Data Quality Web Service (DQWS). "SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) has become the industry standard for Web services," said John Nydam, product manager for Melissa Data. "With a SOAP interface we can now offer customers easier integration with the popular .Net programming languages, and compatibility across operating platforms such as Windows, Solaris, Linux and Unix." DQWS is a unique data-entry verification service capable of validating and correcting postal addresses, updating phone area codes, parsing names and appending gender, and spotting fraudulent entries such as vulgar words. A common application is to verify customer leads generated from Web sites or call centers. The DQWS gives business users confidence in the long-term integrity of their databases by ensuring that new address entries are free of errors and complete. All of the software and source data needed to generate validation is located and maintained on Melissa Data's secure Web servers. For the subscriber, there is nothing to install, update or maintain. After calling the Web service, addresses are instantly verified to meet the strictest U.S. Postal Service requirements for accuracy. Once an address is verified, corrected, and standardized, a ZIP+4 code is appended to the record. DQWS then links the address to a time zone, congressional district, or county. DQWS also returns latitude and longitude coordinates, which can be used to calculate distances to a dealer, store or service location. Nydam also described two new direct-marketing features for the DQWS. With the ZIP Data function, after a ZIP code is validated, the DQWS returns all the cities served by that ZIP code. Conversely, when a city and state combination is validated, DQWS returns the ZIP codes available for that location. The new Street Search feature can be used to resolve multiple matches of street names during data validation. A 30-day trial of the Data Quality Web Service is available by visiting http://www.melissadata.com/DQT/xml.htm or by calling 1-800-800-6245. Sample source code is available for C++, C#, VB.net, Visual Basic, Pearl, Java, ASP and PHP. About Melissa Data Melissa Data, based in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, provides data quality solutions with emphasis on address and phone verification, postal encoding, and data enhancements. The company is a leading provider of easy-to-use and cost-effective solutions for achieving the highest level of data quality for lifetime value. A powerful line of software, databases, components and services afford our customers the flexibility to achieve quality U.S., Canadian and international contact information using almost any language, platform, and media, for point-of-entry or batch applications. Free trial software is available by visiting www.MelissaData.com or by calling1-800-800-6245. ### For more information, please contact: Shana Starr / Jason Kirshner R.M.S. Public Relations (for Melissa Data) Tel: 949-481-3984 / 949-429-1172 Email: Shana-PR@RMS-Biz.com / Jason-PR@RMS-Biz.com |