Make on-the-go restaurant reservations with Open Table for iPhone
As the iPhone shifts more toward an integrated “all purpose” device there seems to be an application for every possible function. Though there are a number of programs that attempt to do multiple tasks, the failure of so many have taught the lesson that a great application is one that can do a single thing better than all others. Open Table exemplifies this type of estimation.
Open Table is a free application available from the App Store that is used to make reservations at restaurants. When you first open the application you are asked to either select a general location where you would like to eat, or have your current location be the starting point for the search. This is one of the most perfect uses for the GPS function on the iPhone, yet Open Table does tend to only search very near to your location with out checking the surrounding landscape. You can then choose the number of people in the party and the exact date and time and the “Find a Table” button will put you well on your way.
When your options come up you are given so much information that you would be hard pressed to learn more by standing outside of it with your face pressed to the window. When you select a restaurant from the list you get the exact address, the price range you should expect, and photo of the establishment, as well as a brief history and overview of the place. The great thing here is that there are then buttons right on the display for specific times, such as 7:15 or 7:30, that you can press to make the reservation. To do this easily you are going to have to stray from the comfort of your phone and head to their actual website to establish a registered profile. It is tempting to just forgo the entire cell phone process and just set up reservations from there, but using the iPhone ends up being incomparably quicker when on the move. Setting up an account is relatively painless and you can set the iPhone application to remember your login at all times. Once you have chosen a reservation time you will be given a profile page outlining exactly what you are about to agree to and you can confirm or cancel.
The application does have minor flaws, mainly in that there are still a limited number of restaurants that are a part of this service. You are going to end up doing a lot better in larger metropolitan or international cities where high profile dining establishments are the norm. This still stands out as a reliable foray into use of a phone as a standard for personal scheduling, and this appears as a sign that more of these functions are on their way.
- Open Table – Free [app store]
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