Ford to Have Industry's Fastest Rollout of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Ford will be the fastest of all automakers in rolling out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
The American automaker has announced that its entire 2017 U.S. vehicle lineup of cars, SUVs, light trucks and electrified vehicles will be compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, thanks to its SYNC 3 platform. The company has been able to take advantage of SYNC 3 to quickly roll out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and future over-the-air updates via Wi-Fi will help ensure those vehicles keep up with the latest technology.
According to Ford, SYNC 3 features all-new hardware and software for faster and more intuitive performance, as well as more conversational voice recognition to help people easily connect their smartphone to a variety of features including hands-free calling and available navigation. Today’s popular apps, like Spotify, Pandora, Ford PASS, AccuWeather and AAA member services have been added through SYNC AppLink.
SEE ALSO: Hyundai Offers Free Upgrade for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay
Apple CarPlay is compatible with iPhone 5 and later models while Android Auto is available on devices with Android 5.0 and higher.
“We developed one platform – SYNC 3 – and have been able to quickly offer the technology across our lineup,” said Chuck Gray, Ford Global Director, Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering. “Customers considering a new vehicle can now choose any 2017 model year Ford car, SUV, light truck, or electrified vehicle with SYNC 3 and be able to access their favorite apps.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Hmm. Maybe I'm mistaken, but wasn't Ford and Toyota going to go their own route with their infotainment systems? I thought they were going to use some open source protocols for phone connectivity to their units. I know they are run on QNX but there was something else, and I can't put my finger on it. Did they give up on that and join the bandwagon?