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40 YEARS OF THE BPA A mobile


WHILE THE BPA CELEBRATES THE PAST 40 YEARS, IT IS ALSO A TIME TO LOOK FORWARDS. HERE, SARAH JUGGINS OFFERS A BRIEF INSIGHT INTO ONE OF THE EXCITING INNOVATIONS COMING ONTO THE MARKET


T


echnological change within the parking industry is phenomenal. From handheld computers used by civil enforcement offi cers to the software used by back offi ce teams, from sophisticated entry


and exit equipment in car parks to the latest in mobile phone parking – the industry is moving forward at a bewildering pace. However, the development that has captured the


public’s imagination – and, dare we say it, made parking cool – is the use of parking apps. T e development of parking apps and the


explosion of mobile technology has combined to give the public instant access to information about parking that can save time, cost and inconvenience. As one reviewer on the Apple


website put it: ‘What’s not to like?’ T e ability to locate parking spaces,


receive notifi cations of when a meter is due to expire or where there are temporary parking restrictions, set a GPS marker to remind the user where the vehicle was parked, and a host of other information is proving popular with customers.


generation


Mobile phone companies are recognising this


potential market and customising the service for their users. Clients of Parkmobile can use its new iPhone app, to control every aspect of their parking accounts via an iPhone or BlackBerry. T e app allows users to start a new parking action,


monitor their parking, extend parking times, update vehicle registrations and view their parking history. Parkmobile has recognised that automatic voice


recognition systems, often used in the parking-by- phone process, can fi nd vehicle registration mark capture diffi cult, a problem that can be exaggerated when the user speaks English as a second language or when there is too much background noise. T e app also off ers three languages – English,


Dutch and German, with more to be added. Not to be left out, Cobalt Telephone Technologies


has launched its upgrade iPhone App. T is free download is available from either an iPhone or the iTunes Apple Store. T e RingGo iPhone app version 2.0 means customers can locate and pay for parking directly


through the app, with no need for a phone call. T e service is available to RingGo Xpress users, although standard users can only access it for a trial period. Cobalt’s chief executive offi cer, Joanna Miller,


said: ‘Our aim for RingGo has always been to make life simpler – and now, no matter how you want to pay – by iPhone, mobile web browser, online, text or IVR – there’s an option that suits everyone.’ Reaction to the parking apps market has, on the whole, been positive. A reviewer, via the Apple website, said: ‘T is is one of the coolest utilities I’ve seen in a long while. It helps you remember when and where you parked, with a very cool interface.’ T ere will inevitably be teething problems with


the technology. Although manufacturers work quickly to update information, there are still gaps in coverage, out-of-date or incorrect information. T e main stumbling block will be human error –


forgetting to activate the app, having the phone on silent or simply forgetting or losing the phone. In short, the parking app is a great idea, so long as the user it is up to speed with the technology.


42 SEPTEMBER 2010 www.britishparking.co.uk


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