Method for directing a phone call to a web-based menu access point via a passive telephone access point

A system for providing interactive voice response (IVR), comprising:

• a computer system comprising:
• a passive telephone access point (PTAP) deployment system configured to create a PTAP in association with an IVR telephone system, wherein the PTAP is configured to:
• receive telephone calls forwarded by the IVR telephone system;
• send a notification to a caller, of a telephone call forwarded by the IVR telephone system, via a communication channel different from a voice communication channel via which the caller connected to the IVR telephone system;
• wherein the notification comprises connection information that is executable to connect the caller to a visual menu system.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that when executed cause a computer system to:

• deploy a passive telephone access point (PTAP), the deploying comprising:
• for each instance of the PTAP deployed:
• automatically generating a unique telephone access number for the PTAP;
• automatically generating a set of instructions for handling a call forwarded, by an interactive voice response (IVR) telephone system, to the PTAP via the access number;
• including in the instructions, information that links the PTAP to a visual menu system to which the PTAP is to direct a caller of a forwarded call.