Ford offers SYNC AppLink for 3.4 million more customers

DEARBORN, USA: Building on the pioneering SYNC in-car connectivity system it launched in 2007, Ford Motor Co. announced new system investments and organizational alignments to deliver the industry's best fully integrated connected car and digital consumer experience.

"Ford was first to bring affordable and widely available advanced connectivity features to the market starting with SYNC, putting Ford firmly on the map as a technology company," said Raj Nair, group VP, Global Product Development. "With the rapid pace of mobile and digital innovation, our goal is to move the bar yet again, leveraging emerging technologies and the flexibility of the SYNC platform to enhance the ownership experience for customers."

Just ahead of expected additional announcements at the 2014 International CES, the world's largest hands-on showcase of emerging innovation, Ford announced that it will expand its industry-leading SYNC AppLink™ system to 3.4 million more vehicles currently on the road.

Since its launch in 2010, Ford has migrated SYNC AppLink to more products and customers around the world, enabling vehicle owners to access and control smartphone apps including TuneIn, NPR and iHeartRadio via voice command. More than 1-million vehicles equipped with SYNC AppLink are on the road today, and another 3.4 million vehicles - model year 2010 and newer - will be eligible to download AppLink later this year.

Currently, SYNC AppLink allows users to seamlessly control over 60 smartphone mobile apps - on both iOS and Android platforms - using the car's voice commands, enabling drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Ford is the first automaker to offer an open developer program, www.developer.ford.com, to help keep customers connected inside the vehicle and will continue to add new SYNC-enabled smartphone apps to enhance the driving experience.

Today, consumers continue to demand more personalized, simplified and integrated in-vehicle experiences. And, with consumers spending more time with digital media than with any other, Ford hopes to turn the connected vehicle into an intelligent vehicle, one that simplifies and personalizes the in-vehicle experience for the consumer.

Beyond the in-car experience, Ford's ultimate goal is to use connectivity and digital to transform every aspect of the ownership experience, and to build the foundation for future mobility initiatives. With the eventual proliferation of embedded telematics capabilities for Ford Motor Company's SYNC system, as recently announced on Lincoln MKC, a newly aligned organization will manage connectivity across the entire enterprise.