Smartphones Can Help You Avoid Parking Dilemmas

Yesterday, I cam across an interesting story from down under in Australia - the CFO of a large business parked at the airport for a trip, but couldn't find it upon his return. Thinking it was stolen, he reported the incident to the authorities, and after waiting a few weeks his insurance company covered the cost of a new car. But, the article continues: "Weeks later he got a call from the Sydney airport authority who wanted to know whether he was going to collect his car which by then had collected a $1,000 parking ticket."

Apparently said executive had forgotten where he had parked.

Let's be honest - when you're heading to the airport for an important trip, the last thing on your mind is where you're parked. Getting checked in, going through security while avoiding a pat-down, and boarding on time are all more important.

Fortunately, today's smartphones can make life easier. I mean, a simple note in one's phone of parking location can save time upon returning home. And there are even cell phone applications that make this easier, like G-Park for the iPhone. My personal favorite, however, is Carrr Matey for Android phones, which, as the name implies, has a pirate theme. Instead of parking, you "drops anchor," and then when you need to return you find your "vessel," not your car. Both of these apps use the phone's GPS to generate turn-by-turn directions back to your car.

Unfortunately, these apps might not have helped our executive - he went to the right location in the parking garage, but just went to the wrong level.