QuickPark Blog

A few years back when I was first working on QuickPark I declared that 2008 would be the year that location based services would finally take off.  Even looking back two years later, I'm still surprised at how well I called this.  Now here we are in 2010 and you can't read any tech blog without some mention of applications such as Foursquare, Gowalla, Loopt, or Brightkite.  Even Facebook is rumored to be coming close to putting their hat in this increasingly crowded ring.

Now that the industry has matured, what's next?  I can check-in in at least 5 different ways pretty much wherever I go, but what does any of it ultimately mean?  Yeah I can find out who's nearby, which for me is typically no one that I actually know.  Is the best application of this information a way for the unscrupulous to rob me when I'm supposedly not around?  There has to be some killer application that takes advantage of knowing where I am at all times.  Foursquare seems to be headed down the right path by partnering with local businesses to deliver specials to people who check-in at certain locations.  I would definitely be more apt to frequent a bar if I knew I could get a free beer by just checking in.

One of the more intriguing things we are currently working on is a mobile version of QuickPark.  This is a very important step for us as we want to deliver hyperlocal, realtime information to our users, and there is no better place to do this than your mobile device.  Part of the difficulty of building a quality app is determining the right feature set that doesn't make  just a "me too" product, but instead sets a new bar for what is possible on a mobile device.  Of course you want to be able to find available parking on your phone and make a reservation when possible, but what else?

What happens when you're in a long meeting and when you get out you can barely remember where you parked your car?  What about when you park at a meter and your appointment runs longer than you originally planned?  What if you could extend your time without going back to the car?  What if you found yourself with some extra time on your hands and you want to find a good local sandwich shop?  What if they knew you were nearby and sent you a coupon for $5 off your meal for checking them out?

I know that sounds like a lot of what ifs, but I believe it is all possible right now.  The most successful location based applications will be the ones that leverage your information to deliver useful information and services to you.  We still have a ways to go before apps reach their full potential, but we're committed to making sure that happens sooner rather than later.