New York City parking meters have taken cards for some time, but now the city is experimenting with the ability to pay using one’s mobile phone. One advantage of this approach is that it will be possible to “feed the meter” without going to the car. The user will simply pay via their phone from the office, restaurant, or from home. The system can alert the car owner when it is time to add more funds to the ticking meter. And, it can also tell the driver when the time limit at that parking spot is about to be reached. This article doesn’t mention vendor names but it does demonstrate, once again, how the mobile platform is addressing niche markets.
Hoping that the cellphone can do to the parking meter what it did to the pay phone, transportation officials say the technology provides convenience to drivers as well as savings to the city.
After a one-time registration online, drivers will simply use an app or text message to enter the number of the meter they are parking at and the amount of time they wish to purchase, said Bruce Schaller, deputy transportation commissioner.
