One of the key pieces of tech inside many Ford vehicles is the popular Sync infotainment system. Sync is a voice control system that interfaces with mobile devices using USB or Bluetooth. The Sync system allows the driver to use their voice to control many functions of the vehicle from the radio station to the settings on the AC system and beyond. 

Ford has announced a new update for the Sync system that will be offered first to owners of the 2011 Fiesta. The new update adds in a feature called AppLink. While the Fiesta is getting the goods first, it will soon be rolled out to other Ford vehicles.

"More and more drivers are using their devices and their apps while in the car," said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services. "With AppLink, SYNC is a smarter solution for these drivers who choose to use these apps while driving – making it the only connectivity system available that can extend app functionality to the car using both voice and steering wheel controls." 

AppLink allows the driver to control applications on their Blackberry, Android, and iPhone smartphones using their voice. To start with, the list of compatible apps is very short. The list includes Pandora, which is available now for Android and Blackberry devices with iPhone support coming in early 2011. Stitcher will come early next year on all three devices, and OpenBeak on RIM devices is available right now.

The driver will need to download the update from Syncmyride to a flash drive and then install the update in their vehicle using the USB port in the car. Once installed, the driver will be able to press the voice button, say "Mobile applications", and then tell sync what app they want to use. With Pandora, the driver will be able to tell the app what channel to play and be able to rate songs with thumbs up and thumbs down while driving using their voice.

"Where before users would pick up their phone, taking their eyes off the road and hands off the steering wheel while driving to select a station and hit play, AppLink makes all of that functionality available through voice control, just like managing AM and FM radio or your MP3 player through SYNC," said Julius Marchwicki, SYNC product manager.