After Indo-Brit car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover unveiled its next-gen smartphone integration system last month, American carmaker Ford has also followed suit by expanding its SYNC connectivity system, adding Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4G LTE and several new AppLink apps.
Starting this year, owners of Ford's SYNC 3-equipped vehicles will have more choice in how they access their smartphones in the car, informed a press release. iPhone users can activate Apple CarPlay, while Android users can use the services of the Android Auto; two interfaces built specifically for those types of smartphones. Additionally, some other features for the customers to stay connected behind the wheel, and even when they are away from their cars, have also been introduced.
Among the new services that will be introduced in Ford's cars, as a result, will be the Ford SYNC AppLink that adds new apps, including AAA member services, Concur expense report tracking and Eventseeker to find nearby music and other entertainment services. Apple CarPlay has also been added to SYNC, giving iPhone users access to Maps, Messages, Phone and Music through Siri voice control or the car's touchscreen. The Android Auto will enable easier access to Google's apps while the new SYNC Connect will aide remote start, unlock doors and check fuel level via smartphone.
"SYNC allows customers to bring the smartphone technology they're comfortable with into a vehicle and use it without hassle," said Don Butler, Ford executive director, Connected Vehicle and Services in the release, and added, "With SYNC, we move at our customers' pace andndash; making it easy for them to maintain a connected lifestyle no matter their choice of smartphone, apps or services inside and outside their vehicle."
With more than 15 million SYNC-equipped vehicles on roads around the world today and 43 million expected by 2020, connectivity is a major part of the futuristic Ford Smart Mobility plan. In further technological developments at the Ford quarters, the carmaker has recently been rumoured to join forces with tech giant Google to jointly take on the autonomous car industry. Ford's foray into smart vehicles is set to reflect on its conventional car offerings too, with the SYNC technology being its cornerstone.
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