Ford Unveils Mobile App Dev Kit For Sync Compatibility

One of the coolest and most useful options that can be had on most Ford vehicles is Sync. The Sync system offers hands free integration with mobile phones and other controls of the car like the entertainment systems and the AC system among others using Bluetooth and the driver's voice.

Ford has released a new SDK for smartphone app developers that will allow the devs to make their apps compatible with voice control using Sync. The SDK allows the developers to build integration for Sync voice control into existing apps and to develop new apps that have support. The software uses the Sync API called AppLink to access apps that are stored on the smartphone.

Sample apps that have support for Sync voice control integrated include Pandora, Stitcher, and OpenBreak from Orangatame. Ford is evaluating apps that are appropriate for use in cars with things like financial apps to warn when a stock price drops, location based services for navigation and traffic, as well as notifications and alerts that uses Syncs ability to mesh vehicle data with apps.