In an attempt to compete with Google Maps and Yelp, Facebook for iOS now lets users grab a reservation at their favorite restaurant. Facebook has evolved from just a place for friends to keep in touch to a much bigger information hub for restaurants, music, and more.
Facebook for iOS leverages OpenTable’s technology, which Yelp also uses for reservations. Users can head over to a Facebook Page of a restaurant and reserve a table from within the app. Your phone number and email are all that’s needed to get your reservation; you don’t need an OpenTable account. Facebook will automatically fill in your name, email, and phone number if you’ve provided this information on your profile.
Facebook’s decision to integrate OpenTable is a good one, as mobile users are likely looking for restaurant information like phone number, hours, and menus. By allowing users all of this information and the ability to reserve a table, there’s little need for another app if you’re already living in the Facebook ecosystem.
In addition to OpenTable reservations, Facebook for iOS also supports Rovi TV Guide to provide you with information about upcoming show airings as well as other episode information. There are other apps that do this but they may be irrelevant for Facebook users now that these functions are built in. There’s no word when these features will come to Android.
These probably won’t be the last services to be integrated into Facebook as the social network looks to become more than just a communication tool.
