Schlumberger e-City, a business segment of Schlumberger Limited, is showing a number of innovations in Pay & Display parking terminal technology designed to provide increased security and efficiency for operators and greater convenience for drivers. They are available on the Company’s StelioÔ and StradaÔ machines.
New alpha-numeric keypad handles new format registration plate characters
Schlumberger is demonstrating its new, compact, alpha-numeric P&D terminal keypad which has been developed for parking operators wanting to implement a system that enables vehicle registration plate details to be printed on their parking vouchers. This deters motorists from passing-on unexpired tickets to other drivers which would deprive operators of parking revenues. The system can also be helpful in resolving disputes arising from parking enforcement regulation notices.
The new keypad functions in similar way to that on a mobile phone, whereby the user can move quickly between the selection of letters and numerals. Drivers are able to enter all the characters featured on the new UK vehicle registration plates, the introduction of which rendered the older-style, numbers-only keypads partially obsolete in 2001.
Speeding-up credit/debit card payments
Developments in the application of wireless data transfer technology have reduced the time it now takes Schlumberger P&D machines to validate and process debit/credit card payments by a third, to around 20 seconds. This is a noticeable difference which will be appreciated by drivers as they wait for payment authorisations and parking vouchers to be issued.
The reduction in processing time is a result of an upgrade to the BT X25 data packet channel in the connection between CreditCall Communications – providers of the CardEaseÔ universal payment protocol integrated in Schlumberger P&D terminals – and the Transcomm wireless data network used by Schlumberger in the UK for communications between systems.
New electronic locking mechanism separates lock and key to enhance security
A new Schlumberger “intelligent” electronic locking mechanism isolates the deeply-embedded lock from the key ingress itself. Any interference with the key point will not damage the lock and the electronic keys are instantly reprogrammeable in the P&D terminals, so their loss or theft is easily counteracted, simplifying key management and security.
The use of keys allocated to cash collectors can be tracked and they can provide a record of which terminals have been emptied, the dates and times of collections, and the amounts of cash in the machines.
New Parkfolio.com – manages and monitors P&D systems via the web
Parkfolio.com is a new facility that enables subscribers to the unique Schlumberger Bureau Service to view alerts and warnings of service and maintenance requirements generated by their P&D terminals – as well as comprehensive financial and statistical data on the performance of their operations – via a password-protected website.
The information is transmitted, via a modem in each terminal, over the Transcomm wireless data network to the Bureau Service control centre in Bristol. Subscribers are offered various levels of support to suit individual requirements. For example, service and maintenance calls can be handled completely by a network of regional Schlumberger engineers or in conjunction with an operator’s own personnel.
Instead of supplying printed reports, Schlumberger posts the management information and financial data generated by Parkfolio to the website, at intervals to suit the operator, where it can then be viewed on-screen and downloaded. Schlumberger e-City is a world leader in on-street parking solutions. Globally, its systems control more than 2.6 million parking spaces in more than 3,000 cities and 40 countries.
About Schlumberger e-City
Schlumberger e-City is a business segment of Schlumberger Limited, a global technology services company. With more than 60,000 employees serving customers in 65 countries, Schlumberger aggregates IT consulting, systems integration, managed services and related products to the oil and gas, telecommunications, energy and utilities, finance, transport and public sector markets. Leveraging the Schlumberger DeXa* Suite of Services, it also provides IP network connectivity, information security solutions, distributed computing support services and data centre hosting services. In 2001, Schlumberger revenues were $13.7 billion. For more information, visit visit www.slb.com
Schlumberger e-City,
Ferndown Industrial Estate,
Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7PP, U.K
Tel: 01202 850927
Fax: 01202 850903
Parkfolio, Stelio, Strada and Varioflex are marks of Schlumberger
About CreditCall Communications
Founded in 1996, CreditCall Communications is a provider of credit and debit card-based payment systems for "the cashless society". It is a major UK supplier of payment solutions for applications as diverse as credit card car parking, card-based telephony, vending, ticketing and pay TV.
CreditCall invests heavily in research and development and has expertise in telephony, data transfer, banking and software engineering. The result is that it provides technology that will allow virtually any machine, device or terminal to be enabled to accept cashless payment, either by credit or debit card, or micro-payment methods.
For more information about CreditCall products and services visit the company’s website at: www.emvx.co.uk
CardEase is a trademark of CreditCall Communications Limited
About Transcomm
Transcomm plc owns and operates the UK network for business critical wireless data solutions. The Transcomm Network is a proven, reliable and cost-efficient network for business to business wireless data applications that require levels of reliability and integrity not available from consumer oriented voice-centric GSM mobile networks. The network is a packet switched wireless data network built specifically with data in mind covering 95% of the UK population and delivering 99.9% network availability.
In conjunction with its Partners, Transcomm provides a wide range of wireless data applications to help organisations run their businesses more profitably and efficiently – making up-to-the–minute information available whenever and wherever it is needed, securely and reliably. Transcomm provides the network for business on the move across the emergency services, transport, telemetry, local authority and mobile worker markets.
Transcomm (UK:TRC) is an UK company listed on the UK Alternative Investment Market (AIM). It was established in 2000 to include the RAM Mobile Data network business which has been providing wireless data services since 1991.
Further information can be found at www.transcomm.uk.com
Contact:
Terry Walsby
Terry Walsby Media Relations
Tel: 01628 639378
Fax : 01628 777605
Email: terry.walsby@virgin.net
