StartupDunia

SadakMap is a new, local listings + Google Maps mashup site. Here’s how it works - Once you sign up for the service, you can place markers for any local businesses, restaurants, places of interest etc. on the map. You can also view markers made by other users. Users can also add reviews to any listing and rate a listing. All along this, every interaction occurs on the map of the city. This makes the approach very intuitive and refreshing. Think of it as a map with social features — or rather a collaborative map. So, any registered user can add a marker on the map and rest of the community can participate in reviewing / rating the listing.

As per Unmesh, the founder, the long term goal is to form a social networking sort of community going around the users as the site adoption increases. Once the site gets enough traction, Unmesh plans to introduce SMS based targeted offers to users from local businesses.

The site currently uses Google Maps API to leverage Google Maps as part of the collaborative interaction. I havent messed around with Google Maps API and so wasnt sure about who would own the data in such a scenario. As per Unmesh, SadakMap owns and stores all the data (listings, markers, reviews, messages etc.). Google Maps can very easily be replaced by other alternatives and mashed up with the data SadakMap has collected.

I like the mashup idea and as far as I know, such a mashup doesnt exist for India (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong). In the current form, the one thing I felt lacking in the site was the ability to locate listings by categories. However, it seems that this feature is in the works.

PS: Loading the initial page takes a little longer than normal and Unmesh is working on resolving the issue.

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