• October 8, 2010

Ford Motor has released a Software Development Kit to seed the developer world for applications around hands-free voice recognition through Ford Sync. The automaker says the idea is to collaborate with developers of wireless, consumer electronics and apps to advance in-car connectivity.

The automaker says it has received and is reviewing more than 1,000 submissions -- "From developers looking to modify existing apps or create all-new apps that can successfully interface with Ford SYNC through AppLink," the latter referring to the software that connects Ford's in-car Sync platform to mobile apps in a user's smartphone, and allows them to be controlled through the Sync voice recognition system.

The automaker says app stores will distribute updated Sync-enabled versions of apps. Owners of Sync AppLink-equipped cars download the enabled app through the appropriate app store for their smartphone's operating system.

Apps that Ford wants to "synch" with are personalized entertainment like Pandora (which Ford has already aligned with); personalized information and news; location-based services including navigation, traffic and business searches; notifications and alerts; financial apps; and scheduling and planning apps.