Zomato upgrades iOS, Android apps; ups UI and integrates social features

Online restaurant guide Zomato has come out with an upgraded mobile app for Android and iOS platforms. Though it claims to have a lot of integration done underneath, the main difference from the previous app is in terms of user interface and additions of the new social features of Zomato.

On the Android platform, the app has already hit more than a lakh downloads and enjoys an average of 4.4/5 star rating from users as well. Apparently one of the features by which while searching for restaurant suggestions users had to just shake the phone to get another suggestion had been discounted in the new version of the Android app. In the new version of the app on both Android and iOS, the users can get instant recommendations based on the current locations, can spot top 25 trending restaurants and user reviews on homescreen itself. Zomato has also upgraded the apps with its newly acquired social features so that users can share restaurant information/user profile information via Facebook, Twitter, SMS, e-mail or any other social platform. Once logged in, users can now follow other 'foodies' on Zomato and get notifications about their activities – reviews, ratings and favourites. Based on these activities, users can also view recommendations from their network in the search results. Lastly, in addition to writing reviews, the latest app allows users to save drafts of their reviews. In June, Zomato went social big time and integrated social features on its portal by enabling sharing and rating of user reviews and also integration of Facebook.

"The latest app is better than the older one in every way and I think it is the best foodie app ever made. There have been many changes integrated under the hood and the app is more aesthetically pleasing, user friendly and is now consistent across all platforms. The social features and other additions such as the list of top 25 restaurants & foodies, favourites & wish lists further enhance the restaurant discovery experience. Having launched in Dubai a week back, we are happy to hit the international markets with such a high quality app and this will help us penetrate the international markets (which have higher smartphone penetration than India) more quickly." said Deepinder Goyal, founder and CEO of Zomato.

Zomato (formerly known as Foodiebay) was started in 2008 by IIT-Delhi alumni Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah. Both of them worked with the consulting giant Bain & Company before starting the venture. Zomato is an online food directory which provides extensive information to help users choose where to dine. Backed by public-listed Internet firm Info Edge (India) Ltd, the company behind the popular job site Naukri.com, Zomato received two rounds of funding worth nearly $4 million (Rs 22 crore). It is now looking to raise third round of funding to expand further internationally. Recently, it launched in Dubai and Singapore and is looking to foray into Hong Kong and Moscow very soon.

(Edited by Prem Udayabhanu)