FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where do you get your time and timezone information?

We implement a modified version of the Olson Timezone Database - a collaborative compilation of information about the world's time zones.

In addition, we use our own systems to resolve queries made on our site in real-time using our innovative fast lookup system.

For more information on the Olson Timezone Database, please refer to the official web site at:

http://www.twinsun.com/tz/tz-link.htm.


2. Why are you running in 'BETA' mode and what does this mean?

We're currently running our service in 'beta' mode to introduce it to you as we continue to tweak and refine our service.

Strictly speaking, 'Beta' refers to a test site or test version. In reality, the term 'beta version' is used in most web applications as a means of inferring that the site is subject to ongoing development.

Once we're completely satisfied that we've provided all the functionality we want to provide and that our users are completely happy, the 'beta' part in our logo will be removed.


3. How accurate are the times given on WorldTimeEngine.com?

We've spend innummerable man hours building a mechanism to ensure that the live times you see on your screen are, in fact, accurately synchronised to an atomic clock - perhaps one of the most difficult challenges we undertook in development.

When you view a time page, the World Time Engine takes a few seconds to calibrate your location and browser before we're satisfied that we've synchronised it with the atomic time.

Once this calibration is complete the clock changes to show you seconds ticking by in your browser. This is the currently synchronised time.

We're confident that the dynamic time we provide is accurate to within 2 seconds of atomic time at any given location on earth.


4. I want to integrate the local time in my application/web site. How can I do this?

We offer licensed personal and commercial use of our data through the World Time Engine Local API Service™.

For more details about this service offering please click the link above.

We are continually tweaking and refining our API to meet the needs of our users and any feedback you may have is essential to continuing to provide the best Time API available anywhere in the world.


5. Can I get a local time data feed for commercial use?

Yes. We offer a flat-rate commercial licensing option of our World Time Engine Local API Service™.

For commercial licensing options beyond the standard API Terms of Use, please contact us for more information.


6. Can I link to your service from my page?

Yes! You do not need to ask us for permission to link. Linking to us is free, permissible, and encouraged. After you've linked to us, we encourage you to let us know by e-mailing us at the address listed on our contact page.

Permission is hereby given to you to link to any page of our site at your discretion, provided you use the following HTML code method for the service. (If you wish to use alternate wording, we will probably say yes -- but please ask in advance by sending the proposed wording to the address listed on our contact page.)

You can insert the provided HTML code below into to any of your Web pages.

• To link to the World Time Engine homepage, use:

          <A HREF="http://worldtimeengine.com/">	
               WorldTimeEngine.com - Local Time for any Place in the World
          </A>	  
	  

• To link to the World Time Engine - Advanced Search page, use:

          <A HREF="http://worldtimeengine.com/advanced_search">	
               WorldTimeEngine.com - Past, Present and Future Local Time for any Place in the World
          </A>	  
	  

It's also possible to link directly to search results on WorldTimeEngine.com.

• Generally, the format for linking to results is:

          <A HREF="http://worldtimeengine.com/{action name}/{place name}">	
               {your text here}
          </A>	  
	  

where,

          {action name} = doTime OR doDST OR doMeeting
	  

and,

          {place name} can hold multiple place names if seperated by a forward slash '/' 
	  and an underscore character '_' instead of spaces.
		  
               e.g., london/san_franscisco/sydney
	  

As an example, if we want to link to a live meeting planner between London and Paris, we could use the following link:

          <A HREF="http://worldtimeengine.com/doMeeting/london/paris">	
               Live Meeting Planner for London and Paris
          </A>	  
	  

TIP: The easiest way to link to search result pages is to navigate to those pages on our site and simply copy the address from your browser's address bar in to the 'href' section of the HTML link.

Using the above link HTML will ensure that your users are always using the latest version of the our WorldTimeEngine.com local time service.

If you want to display one of our logos, please see the next question below.


7. Can I use your logo on my site?

Yes. Like linking to our pages, using our logo is free, permissible, and encouraged. We always appreciate you letting us know about the logo use by e-mailing us at the address listed on our contact page.

You can include our logo in your site by inserting one of the following HTML code snippets in to your web pages:

Logo 1: 350 x 54 pixels

<a href="http://worldtimeengine.com">
<img src="http://worldtimeengine.com/images/logo.gif" width="350" height="54" border="0" />
</a>
	

Logo 2: 280 x 43 pixels

<a href="http://worldtimeengine.com">
<img src="http://worldtimeengine.com/images/logo_280_43.gif" width="280" height="43" border="0" />
</a>
	

Logo 3: 200 x 31 pixels

<a href="http://worldtimeengine.com">
<img src="http://worldtimeengine.com/images/logo_200_31.gif" width="200" height="31" border="0" />
</a>
	

8. Can I add a Local Time Search Box to my Site?

Absolutely. You can read more about how this is possible on our Developer Resources page.


9. What upgrades are planned for this service?

We are always concentrating on adding new features and functionality to our service. At present we are focusing on the development of our API and supporting other common languages on our site.


10. I actually use your local times for a practical purpose. Can you guarantee their accuracy?

No. Furthermore, by using our services you are indicating your acceptance of the Terms of Use -- accepting all liability and indemnifying us completely regarding any use you decide to make of any information from our service.

If you need data for commercial purposes, such as for import into databases, software, or web applications, you should subscribe to our Local Time API Service.

Should you decide to subscribe to our Local Time API Service, you are indicating your acceptance of the Local Time API Terms of Use -- accepting all liability and indemnifying us completely regarding any use you decide to make of any information from our service.

 

1. How can I view and compare the local time in multiple locations?

The local time service on our site allows you to enter multiple locations in to any search box on the site.

To simultaneously search more than one location simply use the ' and ' keyword between your desired locations.

For example, to compare the current local times in Los Angeles, New York, London and Paris enter the following in the search box:

NOTE: Each place MUST be seperated by the ' and ' keyword only. The ampersand character (&) and commas (,) are not keywords in the service and will not produce the desired results.

You can search and compare up to 5 different locations in a single query.

Alternatively, if already on a results page, simply enter the additional location names in to the 'Add additional locations to compare' form available on all search results pages.


2. How can I view and compare historic and future local times?

The best way to begin such a search is by using our Advanced Search form and setting the desired date and time - as applicable to the primary location - before viewing the search results.

Alternatively, you can see historic and future local times if you are already on a results page by locating the 'Change date and time' box at the bottom of all search results pages.

In this box you can select a date and time (either manually or using the provided calendar widget) along with the location to which this date and time relates, to view historic and future times for the given results.


3. You accept co-ordinates as input? What co-ordinates format should I use?

We comply to the WGS-84 co-ordinates standard but other than that, we're flexible on the way you can enter your co-ordinates, in latitude, longitude formats similar to the following:

NOTE: The same ' and ' keyword rules can be applied to search for multiple co-ordinate pairs. e.g., 51.50, -0.126236 and 48.50, -0.14435


For more information on the WGS84 co-ordinates system please refer to the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGS84