Ford Motor Company this week announced that the popular traffic and navigation app Waze will soon be able to integrate with Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system, bringing real-time, crowd-sourced traffic updates to Ford’s integrated infotainment touchscreen and audio system. It’s a full-feature integration, meaning that even recent app features like “Talk to Waze”, which allows users to control the application using voice commands, will be available through SYNC 3.
Waze gathers information about traffic conditions in real time by crowd-sourcing data from app users as they commute. At the same time, Waze users can volunteer information about disabled vehicles, road debris, police vehicles, and other potential hazards and obstacles as they drive.
“Our goal is to bring a human-centered approach to technology in the vehicle, making it as easy as possible for people to integrate the tools that matter most to them,” says Ford Executive Director of Connected Vehicle and Services Don Butler. “With the flexibility of our SYNC 3 software and AppLink, customers can easily use Waze to get all the traffic and navigation help they need – on a big screen and without having to fiddle around with their phones while driving.”
Ford’s Waze app integration will be made available on 2018 model-year Ford vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 version 3.0 or higher in the coming weeks, while other SYNC 3-equipped Fords will be able to add the functionality with an over-the-air or USB system update.
Comments
Over the years Ford has made numerous promises at CES, most have fallen flat.
Smartlink being one of them, not to mention the all too infamous My Ford Touch.
SYNC3 owner updates through their home WiFi have been all but nonexistent and the grandiose promises made by Ford have never been fulfilled.
SYNC3 can be best described as over promised and under delivered.