What is it about parking and mobile payments? They just seem to go together.

CultureMap, the "daily digital magazine" for Houston, Texas, is reporting that a new cellphone payment system for parking will be announced in Houston, starting with 700 solar-powered meters in the city's downtown area.

The method has actually been available for weeks, but new signs explaining the payment option will be put up by the city's Parking Management Division, the report says.

"It's a slick system," said Chris Newport, public information officer for Parking Management, in the article. "You populate the new app with your license plate and credit card information. Once that's in the system, you just enter the parking zone number and you're done. If you don't have the app, you can just call the number listed on the meter."

The new system sends a warning through a text message or email warning the owner of the parked car when 15 minutes are left on the meter, even offering the option of additional time.

The effort is being handled through a partnership with mobile payment and parking software profider Parkmobile.

Newport told CultureMap the system is also both a cost saver and environmentally-friendly since it eliminates a lot of paper and paperwork.

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