We live in a connected world.
Thanks to smart home technology, our fridge talks to our virtual assistant, which then talks to our phone. We own an average of 3.3 connected devices these days, mostly powered and managed through our smartphones.
If you’re looking to buy a new Ford, you’ll be able to add one more device to your list.
Cars and trucks are increasingly part of the internet of things, and Ford SYNC brings all the Ford models into the fold.
SYNC allows your phone and car to communicate like never before, pulling everything together for you when you hit the road. Travel easier, work smarter and drive safer with the power of SYNC.
What Is Ford SYNC
Ford SYNC is voice-activated technology that helps you communicate and navigate while you’re driving. By connecting your smartphone to your car, you can take advantage of the apps on your phone as well as the safety feature of hands-free.
SYNC is a software platform that takes advantage of the embedded modem in new Ford models. The original version of SYNC was powered by Microsoft Auto software, which could interface with an MP3 player or Bluetooth phone. SYNC 3 rolled in MyFord Touch features and SYNC AppLink powered by software from BlackBerry.
The newest generation – SYNC 4 – was unveiled in the Ford Mustang Mach E in 2019. It brings touchscreen sizes up to 15.5”, voice recognition, and cloud-based connectivity.
To use Ford SYNC, Bluetooth has to be enabled on your phone. Once you make the wireless connection, you’ll be able to take advantage of all the connection options available. It’s a tool that brings high-end tools to affordable models such as the Ford Fiesta.
Features of Ford SYNC
We have become so used to being connected with the world around us that we actually get anxious when we don’t have our smartphones with us. More than 68 percent of us check our phones as one of the first things we do upon waking up.
Ford SYNC removes that anxiety and keeps you connected during your work commute or while running errands around town. Running your phone and its features through SYNC allows for safer hands-free use to take advantage of these features.
Built-In Features
Ford pioneered many of the tech features we see in cars and trucks today when it introduced the first version of the software. With SYNC 3, it made these standard in most of its models.
These include hands-free calling via Bluetooth, large touchscreen dash screens, and 911 Assist. The car can transfer the address book of your phone and use those names and numbers for the calling function. Making a call is as easy as pushing a button on the steering wheel.
Ford SYNC also uses text-to-speech to read your text messages aloud and reply with one of 20 set responses. It supports other phone features as well, such as caller ID, conference calling, and call waiting.
You can program SYNC to play personal ring tones, including setting specific tones for certain callers. And all of this shows up for you on the display screen in the dashboard.
Interact with Your Smartphone
With SNYC 3 came Apple CarPlay, which lets you use Siri to control your iPhone via voice command. You can make calls, check your voicemail, send and receive text messages, and access your music playlists. Apple CarPlay brings iOS to your car and is now available in more than 500 vehicle models.
You get similar features with Android Auto where you can talk to your Google Assistant to do the same actions. This allows you to use Google Maps for voice-guided navigation and live traffic info.
With the AppLink feature of Ford SYNC, apps on your phone can be used in your car while you drive.
SYNC Connect
SYNC Connect makes your car and smartphone best friends. With this 4G LTE modem embedded in your car, you can take advantage of remote control options and other tools available in the FordPass App.
From the comfort of your living room couch, you can start your car, lock the doors, and check the oil. Track its location in a parking lot, start it, or check the fuel level. You can even schedule a time to remotely start the car so it is all warmed up and toasty for you in the morning.
Partnering Programs
Ford SYNC works not just with apps you would typically have on your phone but others as well. Ford has teamed with specific partners to optimize connection and function within SYNC through specialty applications.
Amazon
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can now opt to have items delivered to your car instead of your home. No more having packages sent to work where they can get lost in the mailroom or to your home where they might get stolen off the porch.
To take advantage of in-car delivery, you need to download the Key by Amazon app and link it with the FordPass app. You can shop for eligible items and then choose in-car when you check out.
Waze
You might have used Waze on your phone already to navigate traffic. The program allows you to collaborate with other users to report problems such as construction, accidents, and speed traps.
The app is now compatible with SYNC 3 AppLink, which puts Waze on your dash screen so you can easily see it on a larger display. You can operate it with the car’s touchscreen and use voice commands with it.
Alexa
There is a specific app that extends the power of Alexa from your car to your home. The Ford+Alexa app has access to voice navigation and traffic information, but also over 30,000 Alexa skills and Amazon Prime shopping. You can also control your smart home devices from your Ford through the app.
SiriusXM
If you have the SiriusXM app on your phone, it can also work through your Ford SYNC connection. Its traffic and travel links can help you find a hidden gem of a restaurant or the nearest ATM and give you turn-by-turn directions to get you there.
Wi-fi Hotspot
SYNC can use the FordPass Connect modem to make your car its own wi-fi hotspot. This is a great option if you’re traveling with devices that don’t have their own data connections, such as a laptop.
You can connect up to 10 devices at a time and use the FordPass app to keep track of your data usage. The hotspot works up to 50 feet away from the car and uses AT&T services.
Work-Specific Solutions
These particular features can be found in vehicles typically used in work settings, such as the Ford F150, F-Series Super Duty, E-Series van, and Transit Connect. These have a unique in-dash computer system that works with a special set of apps. The chief difference between these and the regular consumer set is the ability for fleet managers to access the information and not just the driver.
These apps include Crew Chief with real-time vehicle location and maintenance tracking and Garmin Navigation with destination routing. LogMeIn allows users to remotely access an office computer from the field, while Tool Link keeps an inventory of what is in the truck bed using RFID tags.
More About Ford SYNC
If you’re wondering “well, what about my Ford”, SYNC has been in some cars since 2008, although without many of the connected features listed here.
The SYNC Connect modem was first introduced in 2017 in select models and additional ones in 2019. Starting in 2021, all Ford vehicles will have SYNC Connect included standard, which opens the world of possibilities to you. Your new Ford is part of the IoT that will include more than 77 million smart cars by 2025.
Activation is simple through your phone. After you have set up the FordPass app and activated it, go to your vehicle and start it. A message will appear on the Ford SYNC touchscreen. Accepting it will connect the FordPass app on your phone to the one in the car.
For the first five years from when you originally purchased your vehicle, Ford SYNC Connect is free to use. Since it is software-driven, you can always have the latest version and keep it up-to-date. Dealer service technicians can do the update during regular service visits, or you can download the software and install it yourself.
Try Ford SYNC For Yourself
The possibilities technology brings to our automobiles continues to astound. We’ve grown used to the benefits of hands-free devices and satellite connections in recent years. With Ford SYNC, your car or truck leaps even further ahead thanks to its superior connectivity features.
When it’s time to buy a new car, come see us to check out all the new Ford models with this connectivity capability. Drop by to ask any questions or schedule a test drive right from our website. We’d be happy to help you discover what is possible in your new Ford thanks to SYNC.
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