Integrate Phone Calls With Google Maps

Some people can look at a spreadsheet and process all of the data within it. Other people do better understanding data when it is presented verbally. Still others process the data better when they can see it in a more visual presentation.

At Ifbyphone, we provide call tracking reports in several ways. We can give you the raw data in a CSV, XML, XLS or via a web post. We can give you graphs of calls by day and hour. We can give you a graph of calls by how they are initiated. Our reporting suite is extensive.

One of the things that I thought would be interesting is to show data gathered on a call on a map. I wanted to create something interactive that would allow you to dial into a phone number, answer a couple questions, and then go to a web page to see your answer show up on a map.

So for this example, I ask for your zip code. That will allow me to determine your location in order to plot the point on a map. Next, I ask a very important question. Allow me to explain. I live in Chicagoland. Chicago is a food centric city that is rich with an incredible array of great places to eat. A place like Chicago doesn't come without it's own traditions. One of those traditions has to do with hot dogs.

In Chicago, it is generally illegal to put ketchup on your hot dog. Mustard? Yes. Relish, peppers? Sure. But ketchup? No. So I thought it would be fun to poll people around the country on whether they put ketchup on their hot dogs. So if you vote for ketchup, I put a red marker on the map. If you vote no, I put a yellow marker on the screen.

The map below shows the current votes. You can vote by calling 866.390.9675. After you vote, refresh this page, and you should see the vote pop up in the general location of your zip code.

Let us know what you think! The code will be available on PhoneMashup.com within a couple days.