The mobile app offers a quick option for users at more than 18,000 restaurants. The app is available for free download in Apple’s App Store.

“We are looking to increase efficiency and communication; putting the best of our resources in the palm of our customer’s hands,” said Derek Vanderpool, director of mobile commerce at Restaurant.com, Chicago.

“The Restaurant.com iPhone app helps us reach our on the go audience – a market segment we hope to grow into a loyal base of fans through convenient elements, such as Deals Near Me – a feature that uses geolocation technology to find restaurant savings near your current location, and paperless redemption – a feature that allows customers to redeem gift certificates 100 percent digitally by simply showing the on-screen certificate to a server – no printing required,” he said.

Restaurant.com offers savings at more than 18,000 restaurants nationwide with more than 45,000 daily gift certificate options.

Mobile dining
Through the mobile app consumers can view restaurant menus, descriptions, photos, hours of operation and other information.

Users can also buy and redeem Restaurant.com gift certificates by showing the on-screen certificate to their server at the restaurant.

Consumers can buy certificates through the app

The app also uses the iPhone’s GPS technology to help consumers get directions to the restaurant of their choice.

Restaurant.com is also looking to launch an Android application in the near future.

“The development of both the iPhone app and forthcoming Android app fit nicely with other mobile initiatives as we seek to integrate similar features, functionality and user experience into our new HTML5 mobile site,” Mr. Vanderpool said.

Options
The app is a smart move for the company.

Nowadays there are a lot of dining options for consumers and this app helps users narrow down their search.

The app also lets users filter their restaurant search results by city, distance, price and cuisine type.

“Customers have been waiting for our entry into the app world and have responded to the new iPhone app with extremely positive reviews in the App Store and thousands of downloads within the first few days of launch,” Mr. Vanderpool said.

“We are very excited to continue the roll-out of new mobile offerings to our Android and mobile Web customers in the coming months,” he said.

Final Take
Rimma Kats is staff reporter on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York