September 16, 2003

InfoSpace has updated its website, offering a number of easy-to-use business and people lookup functions, with access to public records, email addresses and more.

InfoSpace's new look focuses on information that will attract business advertisers. Yellow pages and business find services dominate the service, although you can still perform a number of simple people find functions.

The public records link lets you conduct a name and location search. It then provides a list of possible matches. After selecting a name from the list of possibilities, the site prompts you to order a report. Given current privacy concerns, it's interesting that the site does not require that you state a permissible use even though it draws information from public records.

The report provides information from several databases, including "white pages information, real property records, death records, magazine subscriptions, credit records and voter registration." Ordering a report online is a bit confusing. Register with the site first, and then log in, to avoid accidentally ordering a report on yourself.

The content of a report on me indicates that the credit data is old, collected and disseminated by credit agencies prior to the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Also, my record contained no voter registration information, which jibes with Pennsylvania open access laws. At $39.95 a pop, though, I didn't want to test the availability of this information for each state.

Also, although the report on me contained an excellent address history, you can obtain this information for less. If you work for a law firm, or another qualifying entity, Accurint and AutoTrackXP offer excellent address histories at a reasonable price.

Source: Search Engine Watch

        

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