Mobile Parking Pay Service in France

The service, to be introduced by the big French parking operator Vinci Park SA, would be a first in France, though similar services are available in the United Kingdom, Belgium and the United States. French motorists typically pay for on-street parking with cash, prepaid cards or, more recently, credit and debit cards, said Philippe Lerouge, the head of the joint venture that will operate the Pay by Phone service. The U.K. branch of U.S. mobile-payment company Verrus Mobile Technologies Inc. and the French bank Credit Mutuel are collaborating on the service.

"The difference is, with phones, you pay remotely, and you can extend and stop" the parking period, Lerouge said. "You have SMS text alerts, which is not possible without the mobile."

Vinci operates about 6,000 on-street parking spaces in Issy-les-Moulineaux and has said it plans to expand the service to seven other cities by early 2010.

About VINCI Park

For local authorities, we offer comprehensive management solutions to their parking problems by taking all street and traffic data into consideration. We also design, finance and operate any off-street infrastructure and equipment needed.

This approach gives local officials the benefit of our professional experience. At the same time, they can optimise the financial performance of their parking service while handing over the concerns of day-to-day management to a world-class operator.