I'm working on an auto-complete input field somewhat similar to the one on Facebook where you start typing a city and suggestions appear.
I have been testing Geonames but it's not as precise as Facebook.. and Google's geocoding API can be used only with a map which I don't need.
Does anyone know what web service Facebook uses for geocoding? Or does it have its own?
Facebook uses "Location Pages" or "Places pages", which are created by people, businesses and everybody else on facebook. When you type in a facebook city/location textbox, it will search its pages with that name.
Sample of page it shows in City/Location textbox typeahead:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Makati/102152049827030
It's not actually a database of Places and Locations or whatever geo-system. It is community-centered, meaning all possible places / street / commercial establishment one can go to.