• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, May 23, 2012

Through a new exclusive partership with Fandango, AOL’s Moviefone will allow users to buy tickets online, on mobile devices and tablets at 20,000 screens nationwide. The deal doubles the number of screens for which Moviefone previously offered ticketing through Movietickets.com.

“This move bolsters our already extensive web and mobile offerings, including our Moviefone iPad App, and enhances the overall Moviefone experience for our audience,” said Jay Kirsch,” SVP and General Manager, AOL Marketplace.

Besides being able to order tickets via mobile, Moviefone users will be able to access Fandango’s paperles ticketing option, allowing people to buy tickets on their phone and simply scan a barcode at participating theaters. That program was recently expanded to 2,600 screens, at Cinemark and Regency movie theaters.

Fandango said last month that 23% of all ticket sales are now driven by mobile transactions, including those where mobile users print out their tickets at home and bring them to the theater. Company ticket sales are up 127% from a year ago.

For its part, Moviefone says it has more than 4 million unique visitors across its mobile and tablet platforms, with plans to add advertising to its iPad app starting next week for the premiere of "Madagascar 3."