geolocation - Geography in a social network

Question

I want to make a global social network, in which users can search for nearby users.

What is the preferred way to allow users to easily specify where they are located?

Zip code would be accurate, but is US-only.

Lat/long would be accurate, but it is too difficult for mom and dad types.

Drop-down menu of continent, country, province, major city is simple, but perhaps not that accurate if someone lives somewhere remote or in between two major cities.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Use an API to convert addresses to latitude/longitudes.

http://code.google.com/apis/maps/faq.html#geocoder_exists

http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/geocoding/index.html

Answer 2

This might help you.

Using Java and any external libraries, how can I draw latitude/longitude points onto a graphical representation of the Earth?

There is google API for same .

Answer 3

What about using their ip address to locate their location. It isn't best solution compared to google geocoding, but not a bad one i guess.

This might help

IP2Location Application

for more google "location by ip address + api"

Cheers