iOrder????

It seems as though the "i" in front of nearly all the new Apple products over the past few years has stood for innovation. With all the advances in mobile music technology with the iPod and mobile communication with iPhones, it would only make sense that they would look to expand into another industry. But this time, it is not an industry that you would generally associate apple with...unless of course your thinking of a different kind of apple...

And yes, based on the topic of my blog, you guessed right! The restaurant industry!

Apple has just recently submitted an application to the US patent office (U.S. Patent Application #20070291710 if any of you nerds want to actually look it up,) in which, as this article states:

"Apple describes technology that would allow consumers to use a wireless device, such as a phone or media player, to remotely order merchandise from a participating merchant."

Now this description does not seem very innovative, as countless restaurants already have mobile or text message based ordering systems (Papa John's, Pizza Hut, Quiznos, Dunkin' Donuts, and Subway.) But as always, Steve Jobs and those crafty folks over in Cupertino are always taking one step further.

Their proposed technology would place wireless communication devices in the participating establishments, and when the services subscribers get into the given range, their restaurant choices appear.

And after the mobile order is placed, the user receives notification as to when their order will be ready. No more waiting in line while on the go, and patrons will now have much healthier options other than just fast food when they are in a hurry.

A leading company in the mobile ordering industry, "GoMobo, currently provides text and mobile ordering capabilities to around 200 restaurants in New York City and 10 other areas, including Philadelphia, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. Customers love the convenience of being able to avoid the lines...some locations report sales volumes of $3,000 or more a month through the service, and mobile and text orders on average are 24 percent larger than those placed at a traditional point-of-sale system."

But the benefits do not end only extend to the traditional restaurant industry. I actually just returned from a weekend trip to Las Vegas, my first since turning 21, and being able to actually all that the great city has to offer. And after spending hours in the casino at the Treasure Island, I believe that this technology could greatly benefit the gaming industry.

Everyone who has ever been to Vegas knows how hard it is to find that waitress who takes your drink order, only to return half an hour later with a watered down cocktail. Furthermore, when hunger strikes in the casino, you must get up from the table you are playing at, find the nearest food stand, place your order, wait for it to get prepared, and then eat...only to return to the table 4o minutes later. If this technology was implemented in the casinos, gamblers would have the ability to place orders wirelessly and on demand. Drinks would be able to be delivered right to your location based on the wireless signal, and food could be ready without having to wait.

Casinos would profit because players would spend less time away from the tables at the diner, and more time putting their money on the line. Bartender and waitresses could focus on filling drink orders and delivering drinks, and entirely cut out the ordering process. This would significantly increase speed of service, and increase customer satisfaction.

As you can see, the possibilities are endless. And as always, Apple is the one brining it to us first. Until then, you can catch me at the blackjack table.