Friday, January 11, 2013
After launching in Birmingham in mid-August, Parkmobile, a way to pay for your parking meter using your smartphone, celebrated its official ribbon cutting Thursday.
Parking can be a challenge in downtown Birmingham but it doesn't have to be — that's, at least, the sentiment of those behind Parkmobile, the smartphone-friendly way to pay for your parking. The company, which launched in Birmingham in mid-August, celebrated its official ribbon-cutting in front of City Hall Thursday morning. "It's exciting to partner with a forward thinking city like Birmingham," said Michael Sanocki, vice president of operations for Parkmobile. The company launched in Europe in 1999 and now serves more than 300 cities across the country. Birmingham was the sixth city in Michigan to join Parkmobile, alongside Ferndale, Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Petoskey and South Haven. Sanocki said the company is currently in negotiations …
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
In addition, drivers who register with and use Parkmobile between Tuesday and Dec. 15, 2012 will be entered in a drawing to win free metered parking for 2013.
Parkmobile lands in Birmingham on Tuesday, and Birmingham shoppers and diners now have more options when it comes to paying the meter. The Birmingham City Commission agreed to sign a contract with Parkmobile USA in early July, giving Birmingham drivers the option to pay for their parking meters either by calling a phone number or by using their smartphone. "Parkmobile is very excited to launch our mobile payment parking service in Birmingham," Parkmobile's CEO Albert Bogaard said in a recent statement. "With this technology, customers no longer have to search for change at their destination. Our mobile payment service is an example of another technology that can make our lives easier and more efficient." How does Parkmobile work? …
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The Birmingham City Commission agreed to sign a contract with Parkmobile Monday night, which lets drivers pay for parking meters straight from their smartphone.
Those tired of paying Birmingham's parking meters with quarters will soon have another option, after the Birmingham City Commission agreed to sign a contract with Parkmobile USA Monday night. Under the Parkmobile system, users can pay for a Birmingham parking meter by either calling a phone number or by using their smartphone. "It's really cool," Police Chief Don Studt said. "I can even use it." How does Parkmobile work? According to Studt, each transaction will cost the user an additional 35 cents. The system will be implemented at no cost to the city except for $200 a month in enforcement fees. However, Studt said the city should recoup those costs easily. Currently, cash from the city's parking meters are collected — and then deposited …
Clinton Baller
7:56 am on Friday, January 11, 2013
Since August: 10,000 transactions divided by 1,700 meters = 5.9 transactions per meter. 10,000 transactions divided by 2,200 "users" = 4.5 transactions per user. 10,000 transactions divided by 5 months = 2,000 transactions per month. 2,000 transactions/month divided by 2,200 users = 0.9 transactions/month/user. 2,000 transactions/month divided by 1,700 meters = 1.18 transactions/month/meter. … more ›