Toyota, others adopting Ford smartphone interface system

SmartDeviceLink is the open-source software on which the Ford SYNC AppLink platform is built. It provides consumers an easy way to access their favourite smartphone apps using voice commands. Automotive suppliers QNX Software Systems and UIEvolution also are adopting the technology, with plans to integrate it into their products.
By adopting this technology, Ford says automakers and suppliers are helping accelerate an industry standard that will increase the number of apps available for in-vehicle use. With common industry software, developers can focus on creating the best experience on one platform, which will be available to customers of many brands.
PSA Peugeot Citroen is investigating adding SmartDeviceLink to its vehicles. Honda, Mazda and Subaru also are considering adding the software.
“The true benefit of a common smartphone app communications interface is that it creates an industry standard – enabling great experiences for customers while allowing different companies the freedom to differentiate their individual brands,” said Don Butler, Ford executive director for connected vehicle and services.
“Ford is making the software available as open-source, because customers throughout the industry benefit if everybody speaks one language.” SmartDeviceLink software, including AppLink, is part of Ford Smart Mobility – the plan to take Ford to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics.
SmartDeviceLink-equipped vehicles enable drivers to manage smartphone applications using display screens, buttons and/or voice-recognition commands. Music apps such as Spotify and iHeartRadio, information apps including AccuWeather and MLB, retail apps such as Domino’s, and a growing list of apps from around the world are already available for Ford AppLink users.
Those apps become more readily available in vehicles equipped with SmartDeviceLink because developers have access to higher volumes of vehicles and new capabilities.
For automakers and suppliers, Ford says, SmartDeviceLink adoption broadens the choice for customers in how they connect and control their smartphones while on the move. Adoption also supports increased quality and security of the software as multiple parties can collaborate on improvements.
As part of Ford SYNC, AppLink is available on more than 5 million Ford vehicles globally. The technology is expected to reach 28 million more vehicles by 2020.
Industry-wide adoption of SmartDeviceLink will help the technology spread to new markets, such as mainland China, Taiwan, New Zealand and Thailand, the company says.
Later this year, Ford will introduce the next version of AppLink based on SmartDeviceLink software, allowing customers to access their favourite compatible navigation app – much as they do on a smartphone – on in-vehicle touch screens. The upgrade brings smartphone navigation to the car, an important feature for customers worldwide.

Connected car community
By making SmartDeviceLink software available to the open-source community, Ford says it is providing the industry a way to maintain differentiated, brand-specific entertainment and connectivity systems that deliver on customer expectations for smartphone app integration – regardless of smartphone.
Livio, a wholly owned Ford subsidiary, continues to manage the open-source project by working with SmartDeviceLink adopters to build the appropriate interfaces into each unique vehicle environment.
“Developing a safer and more secure in-car smartphone connectivity service – which better matches individual vehicle features – is exactly the value and advantage an automaker can offer customers,” said Shigeki Terashi, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Corp.
“We expect that many companies share our view and will participate in the industry SmartDeviceLink collaboration.”
Ottawa-based QNX Software Systems, a BlackBerry subsidiary, offers a comprehensive portfolio of infotainment, telematics, safety and acoustics solutions deployed in more than 60 million vehicles worldwide.
More than 40 automotive manufacturers use QNX Software Systems, including Ford, which employs the operating system for SYNC 3. QNX plans to integrate SmartDeviceLink into its QNX CAR platform for infotainment, which supports a wide variety of systems. This could help to migrate the interface rapidly to millions of vehicles around the world.