Users can now enter a destination on the iPhone (or Android or Blackberry device later this quarter) and push it directly to Ford’s in-car navigation system. The app is powered by Inrix, and it illustrates the value of connecting user input from outside the car with an interface and real-time data available inside the car. Ford and Inrix claim this is the first application to connect a smartphone with in-car GPS, but given the utility of this particular machine-to-machine communication, it certainly won’t be the last.
In addition to the updated Destinations app, Ford also announced the new SYNC AppLink service at CES, giving users voice control over certain navigation functions. Drivers can call for real-time traffic reports and turn-by-turn directions without touching a button. Users can also report traffic incidents to the Sync community, supplementing Inrix’s data with real-time user input. The AppLink service is available in select Ford 2012 model cars.
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