New app allows Ford drivers to share their location

Detroit Free Press - From their vehicle, Ford customers can share their location with a new app developed in partnership with technology company Glympse.

The app, which shares a person's location using the car's Sync voice command, was announced Monday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, along with a number of apps that Ford has approved for use in its vehicles.

Ford's Sync AppLink makes smartphone apps such as Glympse compatible.

"People typically share their location while in the car," said Glympse CEO Bryan Trussel. "We're providing drivers with a rich, real-time and hands-free way to share where they are."

"Working with Ford will help us to reach millions of consumers who will be able to just say 'Send a Glympse' to share their current whereabouts, eliminating the need to send a text or make a phone call," Trussel said.

To use Glympse, drivers must download the app onto their smartphone so the car will recognize it when the phone is connected to the vehicle by Bluetooth or USB.

Drivers can press the Sync button on the steering wheel and say, "Send Glympse" via e-mail, text or to Facebook and Twitter.

The person who receives the Glympse can use their phone or computer to monitor the vehicle's progress to know when the sender will reach their destination, at which point the tracking ends.

Julius Marchwicki, Ford Sync AppLink program manager, said Glympse is an example of how app integration adds convenience and value to their car.

"We are providing our customers with a dynamic way to share their location while removing the need to take their eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel to pick up their smartphone," Marchwicki said.

Glympse for iPhone and Android devices can be downloaded at www.Glympse.com/Get Glympse.

Ford also announced it is making on-demand music service Rhapsody available through Sync.

This is Rhapsody's first full automotive integration.

For another music choice, Aha by Harman used the CES show to announce it will be available in Ford vehicles, a free service that brings in more than 30,000 audio stations that can be tuned in by voice command using Sync.

"Aha connects drivers to the Web in a way that makes sense at 65 m.p.h.," said Robert Acker, vice president of Connectivity for Harman.

Yet another app announced Monday is Kaliki, which provides audio versions of articles from newspapers and magazines.

Ford is expected to make another major announcement later in the day on its connectivity strategy.