First Sound has developed an automated payment system for
local councils and parking operators that enables motorists to pay for
parking using their mobile phones. Developed by First Sound using
communications technology from C3, the system can be tailored to specific
customer demands and easily integrated with existing office systems.
Once parked in an area that supports Park and Go, motorists will have the
option of paying using cash in the traditional way or using their mobile
phones.
Motorists that want to use Park and Go much first pre-register their
name, mobile phone number and other relevant details with the centralised
database that serves all Park and Go sites. This can be done by post, fax,
phone or over the Web. Once registered, paying for parking becomes as simple
as dialling into the Park and Go server, stating in which Park and Go area
they are parked and stating for how long they wish to park.
Several mobile payment options are available to suit individual customers
and parking operators. For example, motorists could pay using a
network-based solution such as Vodafone's mPay, a reverse-billed SMS
solution, a post-paid monthly account or pay via C3's automated PayOnLine
system.
Traffic wardens in Park and Go areas will have on-line access to
centralised servers that store payment details and hence be able to tell
whether vehicles have exceeded the time period paid for. Parking operators
can provide several options for motorists to indicate they have paid using
Park and Go including the use of barcoded stickers that can be scanned by
wardens. Motorists could even be sent SMS messages to indicate they are
nearing the end of their parking time.
The centralised Pay and Go communications server and database runs on a
C3 Apcentia communications system with the main application written in
4Voice, C3's application programming language. The system also supports C3's
PayOnLine a payment solution that uses interactive voice response
technology.
"Pay and Go will both simplify administration for parking operators and
make payment a lot simpler for motorists" said David Larner of First Sound
"especially fleet owners that need to keep a tight control on costs.
There'll be no need to fumble around for loose change; parking payment can
now be simple and instant".
