Control Mobile Apps with Ford SYNC

Ford SYNC, an in-car communications and entertainment technology developed by Microsoft and Ford based on the Microsoft Auto platform, is currently available in a number of Ford vehicles including the Focus, Edge, Explorer, Taurus, and others, including a few from Mercury and Lincoln. However, 2011 Fiesta owners will be the first who get to experience SYNC’s latest feature: SYNC AppLink.

The new AppLink program, downloadable on the Fiesta for now with other models to follow, allows drivers to access and control their Android and Blackberry phones using voice commands. With AppLink, drivers can control apps like Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak app for Twitter, which are the first to become AppLink-enabled. (Yep, people will be tweeting while driving!)

Most other SYNC-equipped cars will get access to the technology sometime next year at which time other smartphones will also be supported, but there are no details yet on which vehicles or phones those will be.