Global Postal Code / City Proximity search via webservice?

Hello,

I am interested in evaluating the MapPoint webservices in the capacity of proximity searching and curious if MapPoint webservices have this ability on a global scale (i.e. - proximity search by postal code & city/state/province/territory/etc. in most countries).

Does microsoft or other third parties host this type of webservice? If not, does anyone know of other commercial webservices that will perform this functionality?

Thanks in advance,
-Tony