Toronto-based HonkMobile announced today what it is calling “the world’s first virtual parking meter” known as HonkTAP.
This new parking meters leverage NFC and Apple Pay, to let drivers pay for parking with just a tap from their iPhone. The announcement was made today at the International Parking and Mobility Institute Conference & Expo, in Anaheim, California.
How does HonkTAP work? Once drivers park their vehicle, they walk up to posted HonkTAP signage, tap their iPhone–which then brings up a guest checkout webpage–enter in a license plate and length of stay, then pay with Apple Pay. No app download or registration is required to use HonkTAP, explains the company.
With HonkTAP, it appears the company is leveraging Apple’s Core NFC and Background Tag Reading, which “allow users to scan NFC tags without an app using background tag reading.”
Drivers will be able to opt-in for text notifications regarding their parking, plus have the ability to extend parking from their smartphone. Those registering a Honk account can get detailed parking history and more.
Tapping into something big… pic.twitter.com/xfcHE0qkot
— HonkMobile (@HonkMobile) June 10, 2019
HonkMobile told iPhone in Canada these new HonkTAP virtual parking meters are now live in Vancouver, Toronto and the GTA, Edmonton, Kingston, Niagara Falls, Oakville, Oshawa, Wasaga Beach and St. Catharines.
In the United States, HonkTAP is live in Milwaukee, Buffalo, Tulsa, Raleigh and Memphis.
HonkMobile says they plan to have 10,000 HonkTAP signs and structures installed across 20 locations in Canada and the U.S. by the end of this summer.
“HonkTAP marks an entirely new era for parking,” said Michael Back, Honk Founder & CEO, in a statement. “Our patent pending technology allows drivers to bypass the parking meter, an app download or user registration, and simply purchase parking with a tap of their iPhone.
For parking operators, HonkTAP replaces expensive and bulky payment terminals, which can be prone to downtime, vandalism and long lines, while offering savings in the “tens of thousands of dollars,” in a scalable solution that costs “95% less than your typical parking hardware.”
