title: How to find the distance between two ZipCodes using Java Code?
body: <p>My requirements are similar to <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4778992/how-to-find-distance-between-two-addresses-java-server-side">this question</a>, except the fact that I am prohibited to use the latitude and longitude values. I want to caluclate the <strong>"walking"</strong> distance between two zipcodes. Later I would also require to query <strong>"who is within X kms ?"</strong></p>
  
  <p>I am not sure whether it is achievable or not. Is it really possible to find the distance between two given zipcodes ? <strong>I don't want the answers which will work only for US/UK zip codes.</strong> I need a generic solution which will work for any two zipcodes of the world. </p>
  
  <p>If the calculation of distance without using Langitude &amp; longitude is not possible then can I get the Langitude / longitude values of a given ZIPCODE ? (amazing) but How ? </p>
  
  <p>Any tutorial / example will be of great help..Since I am working on a commercial project cant use the <a href="http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/directions/#DirectionsRequests" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Google Maps API</a>. So please don't suggest any other licensed services.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks in advance,</p>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE</strong>
  one of the answers of <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4778992/how-to-find-distance-between-two-addresses-java-server-side">this question</a> suggests the use of <a href="http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/spatial-extensions.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MySQL</a> or <a href="http://postgis.refractions.net/documentation/manual-1.5/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Postgress</a>... Will that work for me..?</p>