Fandango Signs Movie Ticket Deal with Cingular

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.com.com/Fandango+sells+ticket+deal+to+Cingular/2100-1039_3-6050315.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703' target='_blank'>http://news.com.com/Fandango+sells+ticket+deal+to+Cingular/2100-1039_3-6050315.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Fandango, the online movie-ticket seller, will expand its service by adding Cingular Wireless to its roster of cellular partners. Earlier this month, Fandango, which had relied solely upon selling movie tickets via the Internet, began its migration away from the computer by entering a partnership with Sprint Nextel. Other existing partners include TiVo, Tribune Media Services and Amazon's IMDb.com. "Moviegoers are often attached at the hip to their mobile devices," Fandango CEO Art Levitt said Thursday, adding that the service's traffic has doubled from month to month."</i><br /><br />Well, well, well; Isn't that special. You can buy your tickets using your cell phone, but don't you dare try to <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10638">use that cell phone</a> around the theaters. :lol:

[edgar]

HA! Hopefully, your ticket is cached and/or local on your phone. Because if you have to retrieve information via PIE or otherwise and your signal is blocked, I guess using your phone in the theater is moot.

I actually like this idea though. I do use the ticket online feature. Many theaters here let you buy your ticket online and then just swipe the same credit card at a kiosk (NO LINE!) at the theater.

I use it extensively when new movies come out at the IMAX - like Goblet of Fire, Lord of Rings, Star Wars etc. The ticket line is usually a block long and sell out quickly. I buy mine a couple days ahead and walk right in.

Hopefully this is a precursor to the US having cell phone purchases like Japan. Now if we can just get those vending machines with Beer! woohoo!

-Edgar

[randalllewis]

Edgar is right on the money. I've used online technology at theaters too, and not just for IMAX or openings, but for regular weekend showings of ordinary films. I like not dealing with lines or having to yell through that stupid metal grate to get the ticket taker to hear me. Let's hope theater owners will remember how technology has helped them so that they avoid the Luddite impulse to try and jam cell phones.