Pizza wars: Pizza Hut throws pie-hat into ring

Pizza Hut is the latest pie-maker to go mobile with a wireless Web site and text offering that allows users to order pizzas from their phones.
The Dallas-based chain established a Web page instructing users how to send orders to the short code 749488 (749HUT). Customers with Internet-enabled phones can visit www.pizzahut.com to access a simplified menu and store locator.
Users must log on to the company’s site to create a personalized menu of up to four orders before using either service.
Papa John’s recently launched a text-message ordering service and is promoting the offering with television spots during the NFL playoffs. Domino’s offers a wireless Web order service for about two-thirds of its 8,000 stores.
“We’ve designed our ordering system to be user-friendly with just a couple of steps, as opposed to the overly complicated, multiple-step system our competition devised,” Pizza Hut CMO Brian Niccol said in a swipe at the two rivals.