-
New developer program is latest step for SmartDeviceLink – the
agnostic app interface software that aims to set the industry standard
for accessing smartphone apps inside the vehicle
- SmartDeviceLink.com
will provide developers with information they need to build smartphone
apps compatible with vehicles by any automaker adopting the
open-source connectivity software contributed to the industry by Ford
-
Toyota Motor Corp. has already announced adoption of the technology
for future vehicles; PSA Groupe, Honda, Subaru and Mazda are exploring
adoption
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
DEARBORN, Mich. -- (Business Wire)
SmartDeviceLink’s new developer program aims to make it easier to build
in-car apps for a growing list of global automakers that have adopted or
are exploring adoption of the Ford-created smartphone app interface
standard.
This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160610005498/en/
Working with Toyota Motor Corp. and other leading automakers, Ford
created SmartDeviceLink.com
– a new program that makes it easier for developers to access the
information they need to build and launch their services for millions of
cars on the road globally.
“We first set out to develop a way for Ford customers to access and
control their favorite smartphone apps using voice commands,” said Don
Butler, executive director, Ford Connected Vehicle and Services. “Now,
seeing how our innovative software is serving new industry partners is
very rewarding. We look forward to innovating together to keep pace with
the needs and wants of consumers around the world.”
SmartDeviceLink is the open-source software on which the Ford AppLink™
platform is built. It provides consumers an easier way to access their
favorite smartphone apps via voice command or touch screen interface.
Part of Ford SYNC®, AppLink is available on more than 6
million Ford vehicles globally, and is expected to reach 28 million more
by 2020.
Ford contributed its AppLink software to the open-source community in
2013. Toyota was the first automaker to adopt the technology, and plans
to introduce it on vehicles in the near future. PSA Groupe, Honda,
Subaru and Mazda are exploring similar integration. Auto suppliers QNX
Software Systems and UIEvolution are adopting the Ford software as well,
with plans to integrate it into their products.
Already, Pandora, Spotify, AccuWeather and iHeartRadio feature
SmartDeviceLink compatibility, and other popular apps are planning
product integrations in the coming months. Adopting and supporting the
SmartDeviceLink protocol will provide automakers worldwide with
immediate access to a growing ecosystem of compatible smartphone apps to
enhance the in-car experience for their own customers.
Industry adoption of SmartDeviceLink offers significant benefits to
automakers interested in creating apps for safer in-car use and
providing greater control to customers over how their data is utilized.
For developers, industry adoption provides greater scale due to the
availability of the technology in vehicles across multiple brands. It
enables automakers and suppliers to maintain brand-specific,
differentiated entertainment and connectivity systems that broaden
choices for customers in terms of how to connect and control their
smartphones in the car.
As SmartDeviceLink is both device- and operating system-agnostic, it’s
poised to play a key role in the integration of apps in emerging markets
where new mobile operating systems may become popular.
“We’re focused on building the best tools to support the growing
SmartDeviceLink ecosystem and promote the developer community,” said
Justin Dickow, product manager for Livio, the Ford subsidiary that
maintains the SmartDeviceLink software. “The SmartDeviceLink developer
portal is designed to increase the visibility of the software, improve
the documentation process, and help developers source the information
they need to create great in-car applications and experiences for
consumers.”
SmartDeviceLink.com offers a hub of information for automakers and
suppliers interested in the technology. It includes software
requirements for developing apps compatible with SmartDeviceLink, along
with system requirements needed to adopt the technology. The site will
point developers to the online location of the software code necessary
for a given project.
Livio continues to manage the open-source project by working with
SmartDeviceLink adopters to build the appropriate interface into each
unique vehicle environment.
Related news:
About Ford Motor Company
Ford
Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company
based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 67 plants
worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing,
manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of Ford
cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as Lincoln luxury
vehicles. At the same time, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging
opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the company’s plan to be a
leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer
experience, and data and analytics. The company provides financial
services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information
regarding Ford and its products worldwide or Ford Motor Credit Company,
visit www.corporate.ford.com.
About Livio
Livio, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, is the
project maintainer of SmartDeviceLink (www.smartdevicelink.com)
and an active contributor to software projects within the Ford Research
& Advanced Engineering organization. Livio began as a consumer
electronics startup out of the Metro Detroit area in 2008 and later
pivoted into mobile software and web technologies. As an emerging leader
in automotive connectivity, Livio was acquired by Ford in 2013.
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and
video, visit www.media.ford.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160610005498/en/
Contacts:
Ford Motor Company
Alan Hall
734.845.4410
ahall32@ford.com
or
Livio
Paul
Elsila
248.591.0333
paul@livio.io
Source: Ford Motor Company
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