Streetline Announces International Expansion to Bring Smart Parking Offering to Europe

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Streetline today announced plans to expand its sensor-enabled mobile and web-based Smart Parking platform to select markets throughout Europe. Technology veteran and former SAP Senior Vice President Asdrubal Pichardo will spearhead efforts to enable Streetline's entry into the European market.

As part of the expansion, Streetline plans to launch its integrated Smart Parking platform, including its free smartphone app Parker™– giving Europe's residents and visitors real-time insight for finding open parking spaces, while enabling European cities to make smarter and more timely decisions related to their parking and transportation systems.

Garage owners throughout Europe will also have the ability to use ParkEdge™, an easy-to-use, web-based parking information platform that empowers parking providers around the globe to self-publish real-time parking availability, capture reservations, and run promotions via Parker. With ParkEdge, parking garage owners, cities, universities, airports, shopping centers, and other parking providers can easily reach motorists in real-time via mobile devices and online with the click of a mouse.  

According to a study by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, European cities are increasingly turning to advanced parking technologies to address traffic congestion, make streets more livable, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Further, a recent IBM global survey showed that drivers in 20 international cities face a daily struggle in finding a parking space – spending an average of nearly 20 minutes in pursuit of a parking spot.

Streetline's patented Smart Parking platform detects the presence of a car through a network of ultra-low power wireless sensors located in individual parking spaces. By downloading Parker onto a smartphone or compatible tablet, consumers can access real-time parking availability – with icons noting more than four spaces available (plenty of parking), more than two spaces available (some parking), or less than two spaces available (limited parking). The app can also deliver information about parking space time limits, pricing, and whether meters take credit cards or coins. With Parker, motorists also have the option to register and pay for parking in participating cities via mobile payment.

The expansion into Europe builds on the company's growing presence in the United States which includes Smart Parking programs in California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Washington D.C. Streetline partners in North America include ACS, IBM and Siemens.

IDC Government Insights estimated the new Smarter Cities information technology market opportunity at $34 billion in 2011, increasing more than 18 percent per year to $57 billion by 2014. 

"We are looking forward to launching our fully integrated offering into the European market which gives cities a turnkey solution to Smarter Parking," said Zia Yusuf, CEO of Streetline. "With the majority of the world's population now living in metropolitan areas, city streets and transportation systems are being strained to the breaking point. By applying advanced technologies to address parking, we can start to make cities smarter and more efficient – helping both consumers and the environment."

About Streetline, Inc.

Streetline's mission is to make Smart Cities a reality through the use of sensor-enabled mobile and web applications. We bring together all aspects of parking management technology in one integrated system – from street-level sensors to mobile apps, analytics, and parking management software. As the leading global provider of real-time parking solutions for cities, airports, universities, private garages, and motorists, Streetline has recorded more than 40 million parking sessions.

Streetline is a privately held company headquartered in Foster City, Calif. The company was recently named one of Fast Company's 10 Most Innovative Companies in Transportation, as well as IBM Global Entrepreneur of the Year. For more information visit: www.streetline.com.

SOURCE Streetline, Inc.