Urbanspoon has been nipping at the heels of OpenTable for the past 18 months since launching its new restaurant reservation system, Rezbook, for the iPad last year.
Now, Urbanspoon — the Seattle upstart that was sold to IAC in 2009 — says that more than 1,000 restaurants have signed up for the service for managing tables and reservations. It also says that online reservations processed through Urbanspoon have increased 325 percent since January.
Urbanspoon has continued to gain traction since it was acquired. The company, which rose to prominence with its iPhone app, said that its mobile app has been downloaded some 20 million times across various mobile platforms.
“New technologies have made it cheaper and easier for restaurants to get into the online reservation game, and it’s no longer necessary for them to make a massive investment on expensive systems and maintenance fees,” said Kara Nortman, general manager, Urbanspoon. “Online reservations systems are not just for huge restaurants with deep pockets; now, anyone with an iPad can reach thousands of new diners and immediately get them into seats.”
OpenTable is the 800-pound gorilla in the online restaurant reservation arena, but Urbanspoon is trying to cut into that lead with the low-cost Rezbook. Seattle area restaurants such as Matt’s in the Market and others have chosen the system, replacing antiquated paper-based reservation books.
OpenTable, which posted revenues of $34 million during the second quarter, is set to report third quarter earnings on November 1.
