For Android users, this could be the end of parking tickets as we know them. At least, that’s what Google promised in its latest update. Google on Thursday announced a slew of new features through its latest software update, including a partnership with ParkMobile that lets users pay for parking with their voice.
The aim is to help drivers eliminate the pain point of paying at the meter when the weather is too cold, a meeting lasts longer than expected, or there aren’t enough coins in the cupholder. The partnership is the latest example of Google’s push into transportation.
Others include adding bicycle and ride-hailing services to Google Maps, developing digital keys and working with automakers to integrate its Android operating system in cars. Parking is the low-hanging fruit that helps Google further integrate into consumers’ everyday lives. This partnership with Parkmobile has limited impact so far. But if the past is any indication of the future, Google will add partners at short notice.
Voice parking is as easy as it sounds. When parking in one place, just say Hey Google, pay for parking, and pay with your phone through Google Assistant prompts. Google Pay will process the transaction.
Google promises: “No more coins, no more chaos.”
Part of the confusion is the tangle of parking apps available for download. Parking Payments removes confusion by defaulting to ParkMobile, the leading app for coordinating parking zones in over 400 U.S. cities. The Android upgrade will also help users check how much time is left on the meter and add time with voice commands by saying Hey Google, parking status or Hey Google, extend parking).
It’s also very important because it’s another way Google mines cars to track users’ personal information. This is also a battlefield where Google is competing with Apple. For Apple, Google and Amazon, the ability to snoop on users’ cars give them more opportunities to sell users their subscription services or sell their information to third parties eager to tailor ads to users’ driving habits, location and other circumstances.
More data opens up plenty of opportunities for tech giants to generate more revenue. Last year, Google and ParkMobile introduced the option to pay for on-street parking through Google Maps, but the ability to pay by voice is a leap for Android users, Google and ParkMobile — and potential third-party customers hungry for targeted data.