Tarragona to host the first trials of parking meter payment by mobile telephone in Spain

Amena, part of the Auna Group, and Parkeon, a leading company in parking solutions, have today announced that a pilot scheme for a system allowing motorists to buy parking time at meters via their mobile telephone will be tested in Tarragona. Payment will be made via the Mobipay system.

As payment will be made via Mobipay, the system will be available to Vodafone and Telefónica users as well as Amena’s customers.
At the end of 2004, the system will be tested with a small number of parking meters in Tarragona and will now be extended throughout the city afterwards. Towards the middle of 2005 the system will be available to all towns nationwide.
In order to use this service, the motorist must initiate the purchase of the required parking time from a mobile telephone. The process of paying via the Mobipay system is then started. Once payment has been authorised, the Parking meter issues the ticket.
The main advantages for the user, as opposed to the existing alternatives, are that this new payment method is easy, quick and secure, is always available and allows the exact amount to be paid. Also, the meter operator benefits from a payment system that complements the coin operated system, since it reduces the amount of coins in the machines, therefore increasing security and decreasing operational costs.

Parkeon’s broad experience in payment by mobile telephone is bolstered by its experience in Dublin and Edinburgh where the system has been used to great success since 2003, winning the British Parking Awards in 2004.