Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is looking for new ways to incorporate mobile technology into its automobile technology.
The company launched a new connectivity feature called Sync that vehicle owners can use through an app on their mobile phones to access various features such as opening the door or starting the vehicle. Sync will initially be available in the company’s new 2017 Ford Escape before it is installed in the company’s other vehicle models. The technology will be available to the market early next year.
According to the company’s website, the Sync Connect app will allow users to remotely lock and unlock their vehicles. They can even start or stop their vehicle remotely or even program the vehicle to start at a specific time for example in the morning so the engine can warm up before the user goes to work. Users can also check the vehicle’s vital signs such as the battery levels, tire pressure or the fuel.
One of the most important feature to come with the technology is the ability to track the position of the car through a map display. Sync Connect involves a two-step authentication process where the user has to confirm the set up on the smartphone and the vehicle’s screen at the same time. The purpose of the authentication process is to enhance the security in connectivity.
The company also announced that the feature will be based on LTE to enable most of the remote features. This is not the first time that the company is offering cellular connectivity in its vehicles. Some of its latest hybrids and Lincoln vehicles allow mobile connectivity through WIFI. Ford plans to make the technology available on a global scale. The technology will be featured in other models in the future.
Ford’s Director of connected vehicle and services told The Verge that the launch of the Sync Connect technology in the US is the first level in a planned worldwide deployment. However, the firm is yet to release any details about the launch of the service in Europe and other regions. Many automobile companies have been working on bringing smart technology into their vehicles. It will be interesting to see what the other major players have to offer.
