LAS VEGAS - The 2010 Ford Mustang is the next car to get the auto manufacturer's Sync treatment. Ford announced Wednesday that the 2012 Ford Mustang will have Sync AppLink pre-installed, allowing for voice control of apps stored on a user's smartphone.
The Mustang will be the first Ford car to have AppLink as a standard feature on Sync. There will also be the option to integrate AppLink into the car's voice-activated navigation system, which also allows for touch-based control of the system's 8-inch screen.
"Mustang is an exciting next addition to the AppLink portfolio, giving Ford the ability to offer more of our customers a smarter solution to using apps while in the car," Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services, said in a statement.
AppLink debuted a few weeks ago as an optional download on syncmyride.com for Ford Fiesta owners. It includes access to apps like Pandora, Stitcher, and OpenBeak. AppLink is currently compatible with Android and BlackBerry devices, and with Apple iPhone coming in early 2011.
Ford chose the Mustang because many buyers of that car typically take advantage of Ford's connectivity add-ons; nearly 75 percent of Mustang buyers opt for the Sync system.
Last week, Ford announced a new Sync Destinations app for iOS and Android devices that will let users send directions to their cars from their smartphones and get traffic predictions, among other things. Ford also recently announced that its Auto Start-Stop technology, which turns off a car's engine when it comes to a stop, will be added to non-hybrid cars by 2012.
Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally is scheduled to give a keynote presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show here Friday at 11am Pacific.