With a recent iOS update, Apple beefed up iMessage to include access to outside applications without having to leave the message. Fandango has just upped its capability by allowing users to search for movies within the message thread, pay for tickets through Apple Pay and save favorite theater locations.

Fandango friends
Friends and family often make plans within texts and mobile messaging. Fandango is acting upon this common user behavior by making it easier for those making plans to book movie tickets.

For iPhone users who have downloaded the Fandango app, they can now install an extension directly into their iMessages. Users are able to share movie schedules and purchasing information with other users without having to leave the message thread.

Once the extension has been added by enabling it within iMessage, users can simply select the App Store image within their thread and then scroll to the Fandango screen. The Fandango screen appears in place of the keyboard within the message.

Fandango’s recent update now allows users to search for specific movies of interest. Once a movie is found, users can book tickets and purchase with Apple Pay, making the process even easier.

Friends can share the info via message with an integrated share button and also purchased tickets.

While also reducing the bugs and issues with the extension, Fandango also included an option to save a favorite theater so users will no longer have to sift through different ones to get to their preferred location.

Fandango capability
The digital movie hub has been a driver in innovative ticketing solutions, bringing more and more capability to the industry and becoming a leader.

Fandango recently partnered with ArcLight Cinemas to bring its mobile ticketing platform to southern California, Chicago and Washington. The platform’s dominance of the ticketing business, with sales up 50 percent year-over-year, point to the importance of mobile and digital integration for the modern movie theater.

To celebrate the partnership, Fandango and ArcLight Cinemas hosted a variety of events and screenings at ArcLight theaters, including movie-themed parties and exclusive receptions (see more).

Fandango’s streaming service, FandangoNOW, also recently got a boost in visibility through integration with Vizio’s SmartCast mobile application, letting users rent or buy movies through their phones and stream them directly to their TVs.

The integration comes as a variety of other streaming services such as Netflix continue to dominate the movie- and TV-watching landscape. Fandango is hoping to capture some of that audience in a mobile way through its partnership with Vizio (see more).