Ford Adds Google Maps 'Send to SYNC' Service
to Beam Driving Directions Into Car; No Extra Cost
DEARBORN, Mich/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- -- Ford adds Google Maps to its 'Send to SYNC' feature, allowing drivers
to send destinations from Google Maps to their Ford vehicle through
the cloud-based SYNCŪ Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) app
-- Drivers download destination information into the vehicle via their
Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones; the information will be processed
into audible turn-by-turn directions, eliminating the need to bring
printed maps into the car and helping drivers keep their hands on the
wheel and eyes on the road
-- 'Send to SYNC' launches later this month and will be available for
existing 2010-11 models equipped with SYNC TDI; no extra hardware,
software updates or costs are required
Drivers who enjoy the convenience of Ford SYNCŪ with Traffic,
Directions & Information (TDI) soon will be able to select a
destination on Google Maps and send it to their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury
vehicles.
'Send to SYNC' is a new capability added to the Ford Service Delivery
Network, the company's cloud-based architecture, which provides a suite
of voice-activated services accessible through a customer's mobile
phone.
"Printing paper directions from a website is a relic in our digital
age," said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services Solutions
Organization. "With Send to SYNC, you can map a destination at home, at
work - wherever you have connectivity - and when you get to your car,
it already knows where you want to go. It's convenient and it eliminates
the waste and distraction of paper maps, conserving resources while
helping drivers keep their eyes on the road."
The SYNC TDI application leverages a customer's mobile phone voice
plan and the vehicle's integrated GPS receiver to deliver location-based
services, such as driving directions or business searches, and
on-demand information such as horoscopes, news, movie listings and stock
quotes. Since these services, including the new Send to SYNC
functionality, are cloud-based, no vehicle updates are required and they
will be available to all owners who have registered for TDI services
through www.syncmyride.com.
When users visit Google Maps on the web to find locations, they will
have the option to send a selected destination to their Ford, Lincoln or
Mercury vehicle via a "send" menu on the site. Once in the vehicle, the
driver connects to SYNC TDI using the "Services" voice command, and
when prompted, confirms the request to download the Google Maps
destination into the vehicle.
The optimal route is calculated in the cloud using the latest traffic
information, downloaded to the vehicle and navigation guidance begins.
If the vehicle is equipped with a map-based navigation system, the
destination point is downloaded directly to that system, which then
calculates the route based on the in-vehicle navigation preferences set
by the driver.
"Our cloud-based service network is helping deliver constant
improvement for our customers, and has become a key reason why Ford
leads the industry with SYNC," said VanDagens. "We're proud to be
working with Google to bring this new capability to SYNC."
The Google Maps 'Send to SYNC' capability launches later this month.
Ford is currently the only automaker offering this capability without
requiring a paid subscription to a telematics service.
Ford previously announced the same feature for MapQuest (owned by
AOL), which will launch later this year.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)
, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich.,
manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With
about 176,000 employees and about 80 plants worldwide, the company's
automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which
has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of
2010, and, until its sale, Volvo. The company provides financial
services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information
regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
Source: Ford Motor Company
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