New Zealand introduces text-to-pay parking meters

The service, which was introduced in Dunedin, New Zealand, was deployed to allow consumers to pay using their cell phones, alleviating the need to carry change or credit cards. The text-to-pay service was introduced last year after parking machines that accepted debit cards were suspended due to larger than expected deductions from users' accounts. The council has no plans to reintroduce the debit-friendly meters.

Elsewhere, parking meters that accept credit and debit cards have proved immensely popular. For example, the San Diego city council has approved the purchase of 131 multi-space parking meters. Between 2004 and 2007, a pilot program using these advanced meters saw a 24 percent increase in revenue compared to their more traditional counterparts.