The other day I went to the website of a restaurant I wanted to make reservations at to get the phone number – while there I noticed they had a OpenTable icon indicating they used that for reservations.  I called and made my reservation, but that to scratch an itch I downloaded the OpenTable iPhone app to explore the app and the service.

I launched the app and I saw the screen below….and I’ll admit it hit me like a ton of bricks – it’s called OpenTable because it’s about finding an open table.  It’s primary purpose isn’t a “new” way of making online reservations, it’s that in a busy city full of bustling restaurants, I can easily find what restaurants have openings in a few easy steps.  Beautiful.

It’s worth noting that Urbanspoon just launched it’s restaurant management solution Rez, iPad app today called RezBook which TechCrunch gave an overview and while I can’t comment on the quality of the management – I’m not sure the OpenTable model can be beat for a customer, particularly in cities where it has high adoption.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Urbanspoon Squares Off Against OpenTable (bits.blogs.nytimes.com)
• More Ways to Snag That Restaurant Table (online.wsj.com)
• OpenTable Seats 2 Million Diners Via Mobile Apps (techcrunch.com)
• 5 Tips from OpenTable in Crafting Your Mobile Strategy (thenextweb.com)

Confession: I’m not sure I’m the typical iPhone app downloader. I say that because while I’ve had an iPhone for almost one year, I currently have TWO game apps (one of which I added yesterday) while anecdotally there seem to be more game apps than anything else.

I’m all about simple, useful and utility.  One of the apps I downloaded yesterday that fits that criteria was PhoneBook. (iTunes link) which is what the name implies, a phonebook.   I’ve already got Contacts, but PhoneBook was too cool to pass up. At start it up it asks for your mobile password (AT&T only) and it takes that data and dynamically creates a pictorial directory of those you call most often. If you so chose it will use Facebook Connect to grab contacts pictures (not sure if it grabs anything else like, phone number, birthday, email, etc.) and sync.  My first page ended up being pretty much my favorites list (but may not be for you). 

My only complaint is that when you click a contact it pulls up the ability to email, call, text, etc. But when you pick call it then opens the iPhone OS dialog to ask if you want to call that number. So it takes FOUR “clicks” to make a call.

Found by perusing Mashable http://mashable.com/2009/07/23/facebook-iphone-apps/