Hands Free Parking Assistance | ParkMe & Magnifis Announce Partnership
Its always great to see your local startups making big moves. Today former Spotlight: LA Tech company ParkMe announced their partnership with Magnifis. ParkMe, a leading provider of parking information to navigation companies and smartphones, and Magnifis a voice-based driver assistant application.
Magnifis’ Android app, called “Robin,” is a challenger to Evi and Apple’s Siri. Robin is specifically designed to be the driver’s personal voice assistant, the first of its kind (think KITT from the Knight Rider series). It aims to address the driver’s needs in a distraction-free manner, at a high level of contextual awareness and overall user experience. Besides real-time parking guidance, Robin can help the driver with traffic information, navigation, local search, up-to-date gas prices and infotainment, all via a voice/gesture interface. The company says it employs “cut- above” intelligence because it can keep track of the conversation.
“ParkMe’s renowned app and database of parking information, combined with Magnifis’ capabilities, will provide our users with safe, hands-free information. It’s a fantastic use of our parking information,” Sam Friedman, CEO of ParkMe, said.
Magnifis CEO Ilya Eckstein believes the app’s highlights are its simplicity and emphasis on safety. “The app can be activated by simply waving one’s hand over the phone, optimizing the experience of driving and searching,” Eckstein said.
ParkMe’s app includes a database of more than 26,000 parking locations through the U.S., Canada and Europe. It provides information on availability, rates, hours of operation and entry points. It also gives users the ability to reserve and pay for parking in select locations. Some real-time on- and off- street locations exist, with many more to follow.
Studies show that up to 30 percent of urban congestion is caused by people searching for parking. “ParkMe’s app is helping to cut down on this problem by providing the best, most dynamic parking data in real time,” Friedman said.
“This new app by Magnifis protects from the dangers of distracted driving. We are delighted that Magnifis has chosen ParkMe as its real-time parking provider,” Friedman said.
For those who may have missed it, and if you were at SXSW how could you! ParkMe guys did an amazing job with a unique idea on marketing their app. Checkout the video below.
