BT lastminute and restaurants

PC Pro - Computing in the Real WorldBT offers restaurants a taste of e-commerce
[PC Pro] 11:31

Finding somewhere decent to eat at short notice might be a bit easier in future. Restaurants with empty tables can now advertise them in real time via Lastminute.com or through special kiosks built in city centres.
Restaurants are to be offered a broadband deal combined with terminal and reservation software which combines a diary and booking system for around £30 a month.

The service will be fed through to Lastminute's visitors which are said to number 500,000 a day. Also BT will be erecting special pink (!) kiosks in City centres where hungry punters on a night out can find a spare table. The scheme has already been piloted in London and will be rolled out to Birmingham, Manchester and other locations next month.

BT is looking to capitalise on its broadband investment by introducing it into new markets. `We believe the 'broadband restaurant' initiative will help to transform and revitalise the way restaurants operate,' said Pierre Danon, BT's CEO for Retail.

'An empty table will now be an opportunity to attract a new market,' he said 'It's also a great example of how an industry sector such as restaurant and catering, which may not have traditionally been at the forefront of the broadband revolution, can take advantage of the internet's immediacy, 24/7 availability and cost-effective business model to steal a march on the competition.'