Feed Me Twitter, Feed Me!

Robert Scoble wrote a quick post about the new upcoming Friendfeed beta and discussed ideas for Twitter in 2012. One of the ideas was an automated tweetback for info like wait times. He referenced Washington State's border crossing wait times as a current example.  Let me add the following idea.

I live about 30 miles from a large suburban mall-plex. You know, one big mall w/ a couple of smaller strip malls and specialty shopping clusters. Not my favorite place to go, or hang out. Traffice designs there are bad, weekend traffic makes it a nightmare. I stay away unless I have no choice.

There are in that location at least a dozen chain type sit down restaurants (Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, Johnny Rockets, Pizza Uno, Olive Garden and so on and so on). If you are shopping and need a bite to eat, you better hit the restaurants before 5PM or the lines and wait times build quickly ro 45, 60, or 90 minutes.

What if there was an automated Twitter based reply system based on zip code? You DM or Tweet Applebees06299 w/ your phone and you get a DM back: @stevesoko: Current Applebees wait time 30 mins. Call 860-555-1234 to get on wait list. For the privilege of using the service, every so often Applebee's sends you a tweet - @stevesoko Remember Wednesday 4PM-8PM is all you can eat pasta at Applebees or @stevesoko For April only two entrees for $20 @Applebees.

Would I follow a restaurant just so I could figure out a reasonable place to eat? After an Saturday afternoon of shopping w/ a car full of cranky kids to find a 15 min or zero wait time? You bet! They all cost about the same, and after a hard day of shopping I don't care if it is Tex-Mex, American Burger, or Italian. Kids are going to get the chicken fingers anyway.

Maybe one tweet to bind them all! @BucklandRestaurants and you get a series of tweets w/ wait times, phones and special deals, and short URL to their menu & website. Could work with a text message back as well. Could work with local downtown areas, or vacation hotspots (@willimaticrestaurants or @newburyportrestaurats). Could linkup to GPS on a phone to get you directions there.

Now all I need is a couple of out of work API developers, a downsized sales rep or two, and a VC angel to fund it. Any takers?