Rob's Rants

Update: 4/30/11

About three weeks ago, Parkmobile finally released an update to this app which fixed the Android connectivity issues. So I’ve been able to use it to pay for parking again. That is a big improvement. The Android interface is still cludgy, but it works. The iPhone version seems to be a generation ahead now and it has some additional features that I hope will be trickling down to Android soon. But at least this app works now.

Below is my original post ….

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After trying the Android version of their app this morning I am now beginning to hate them. The iPhone version was always quirky and clunky – but the Android version positively sucks. This morning it won’t load and keeps telling me I’m not connected to the Internet. Which I plainly am since I was reading the newspaper and typing this on the WordPress app just fine.

I even rebooted my phone. Thankfully I had my work iPhone so I used the app on that to pay. But after trying the Android version a dozen or more times today I am willing to declare the Android Parkmobile app: Worst. App. Ever.

The main problem – it works fine on a Wi-Fi connection. But absolutely won’t connect on a mobile data connection. 3G or 4G. And this is not a new problem. Here’s a sample of recent reviews on Absolutely Android:

By: AizikS
I am excited about this app, however it fails to communicate with the network. Tmobile G2, cyanogen 6.1

By: David
Cannot login, even with good 3G signal, it says connection too slow. Therefore, completely useless until they fix.

By: Jay
Not able to login, connection times out even on full bars. Pointless waste of time. Samsung vibrant (galaxy).

By: jefbags
Doesn’t work at all on Android 2.2. Pretty disappointing…

Seriously – it’s a mobile app so connections will be spotty. You have to do better than spinning with no status indicator and then telling the user they aren’t connected when they plainly are.

Total. Fail. And to think, I praised Parkmobile when the MBTA first switched. Shame on me.

Update: 1/13/11
This app still won’t work over a cellular data connection, but I was able to turn on Wi-Fi on the train and complete a parking transaction. And unbelievably, this app is clunkier than the iPhone version. So, bottom line, right now, even if you can get it to work, it’s not pretty. Daily Parkmobile users should use the iPhone version or pay via SMS. This app doesn’t add much value to the process.

Back on July 23^rd the MBTA finally delivered on one of its promises to Commuter Rail riders and instituted an electronic parking payment system. Called ParkMobile, the system is provided by a company called ParkMobile USA based in Atlanta. Using either an iPhone app, a text message, or a phone call, a user can pay for parking over the phone without having to fold a bunch of dollar bills or find a handful of coins to shove through the slots in Commuter Rail parking lots. I wrote about what a pain in the ass this is several months ago and even suggested a business opportunity for someone to alleviate this pain for commuters.

But it looks like the ParkMobile system goes a long way towards fixing the problem. I signed up and started using it the first day it was available, though not without some learning curve. What you need to do is tell them the license plate number of your car, the lot (they call it the zone), and the space number of your car each day. Then they deduct the $4 for parking and that’s it.

My basic review and impressions after two weeks are this: the iPhone app is pretty bad but usable, the customer service is responsive, and the system as a whole is much easier and more convenient than the old manual way.

I’ve used only the iPhone app, so I can’t comment about the text messaging or the phone methods. The app is pretty crude as far as apps go, and it’s slow as a dog, because it appears to need constant communication with the home server for every screen refresh. But, it eventually does what it needs to do. The one major bug I found is that the app doesn’t allow you to remove old license plate numbers once they’re saved, which caused me my first problem using the system (you can remove it via the website, but that’s not the easiest process either). When I first set up the app, I accidentally put a 7 in my license plate number where a 2 should have been. I couldn’t delete the incorrect plate, so I simply entered the correct version too. The next morning, I set up my parking with, you guessed it, the wrong plate number. I realized this almost immediately and then realized a major flaw in the system – you can’t undo a parking transaction either. So, I created another transaction with the correct plate number, and the same space number. When I got to work, I went to the ParkMobile website and sent an e-mail to their support address (there was no phone number). I received a response within a couple of hours and after a little information exchange, they issued a credit, though they said they needed to send it to my house. Strange that they couldn’t credit the credit card that the parking is charged to. But they were responsive nonetheless.

One benefit occurred to me on a day when I was rushing and put down the wrong space number for my car (I entered 48 when my car was actually in 49). I realized this while I was on the train, but decided to take my chances. And when I got back to the station – no fine envelope. My guess is that the parking police get a list of license plates and were able to figure out that I paid and just screwed up the space number. That’s an advantage over the old system for sure. If you put your bills in the wrong slot, you’re out of luck and you’ll get a fine.

So overall I’m very happy that the MBTA finally did something about their 19^th century parking system and gave us a modern option. I for one won’t be using the slots again – ever.

Thanks MBTA. It’s about time!