Facebook To Offer OpenTable Restaurant Bookings Via Mobile; Eyes Voice Recognition App

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Facebook To Offer OpenTable Restaurant Bookings Via Mobile; Eyes Voice Recognition App

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Facebook struck a deal with online restaurant booking service OpenTable that will allow users to reserve tables at restaurants via a Facebook app. The company also plans to buy the maker of a speech recognition and language translation app.

Facebook said the OpenTable feature would be available on its mobile pages for more than 20,000 OpenTable restaurant customers across North America. But it is not clear whether Facebook would receive any commission from each booking.

Seperately, Facebook will buy Mobile Technologies for an undisclosed amount. The Pittsburgh-based company was the maker of the free Jibbigo Translator mobile app that automatically translates speech from more than 20 languages.

Facebook Management Director Tom Stocky said in a blog post on Monday, "Voice technology has become an increasingly important way for people to navigate mobile devices and the web."