What's the news?
Here's some good news for stressed-out motorists. Parkbytext has launched a new smartphone app. Now, the searching for car parks or paying for car parking time can be done remotely. No more rummaging around for spare coins or rushing back to top up a meter. According to parkbytext, 27 per cent more people used parkbytext in the first six months of 2013 compared with last year.
The take-up from Apple and Android mobile users was even more impressive, with 23 per cent of parkbytext customers using it throughout Ireland. All of this since the app was released in Beta mode in April of this year.
Parkbytext Managing Director Jason Ballard commented, "parkbytext strives to positively change driver behaviours, making it easier to pay for parking. We already accept payments online, via text messaging, so an app was the obvious next step in our offering to customers."
The app also itemises parking history for the customer. This is an obvious bonus for business and fleet car users where auditing and compliance are needed and multiple vehicles are involved. Parkbytext has been recognised too, at the 2013/2014 European Business Awards and we understand it's the first Irish finalist from the parking sector to achieve this.
Anything else?
The app is downloadable now and available to be used nationwide. Parkbytext operates in 200 Irish car parks, Irish Rail's car parks and selected college campus sites. All in all then, it's good news for the motorist. And indirectly, it's bad news for the clampers.