Facebook doesn't want to be just a place for friends anymore. As part of its quest for mobile and global domination, the social network is adding restaurant reservations and movie show times to the Facebook app.
Now Facebook's mobile users which exceed 800 million monthly actives can book dinner reservations on restaurants' Facebook pages and see times for movie and TV shows on those pages, too.
The update, which rolls out later this week, adds a layer of convenience if you're messaging your lady or fella on Facebook about Friday plans, you can stay in the Facebook app and make an OpenTable reservation or check out movie times with little to no extra effort.
Those of us who are devoted OpenTable users because you need reservations to avoid hours-long lines in San Francisco will appreciate the integration, but the average Facebook user doesn't need an OpenTable account to book a table.
Some 20,000 restaurants across the country use OpenTable's reservation system, though obviously not all of them have Facebook pages.
The TV and movie listings are searchable by going to a particular show or film's Facebook page so if you already like?The Hunger Games?or?How I Met Your Mother?on Facebook, you can find show times at nearby theaters and local listings on TV channels in your area.
Facebook?revamped its layout for mobile pages?in April and has been making efforts to enhance its services for local businesses a significant and important market for ad dollars. The new features for mobile pages are a boon for restaurants, who can tap into a huge market, and for Facebook users, who don't have to expend any effort.
