jacAPPS Chosen to Support Ford Developer Program

Related: Ford, Developer, Automative, Mobile Apps

The Ford Motor Company announced today at the 2013 International CES in Las Vegas that Michigan-based jacAPPS will be the recommended mobile app development house for their new Ford Developer Program. The company has been chosen to provide development and technical support to third party developers wanting to create voice-activated smartphone apps for Ford SYNC© AppLink.

Using SYNC© voice commands along with steering wheel and radio buttons, drivers can enjoy a live audio stream or their favorite podcasts from within the mobile app. This is a significant breakthrough for the radio industry that will allow AM/FM stations to have parity on the vehicle's digital screen.

Recognizing that radio's leading mobile app developer was in their own backyard, discussions between Ford and jacAPPS began in mid-2012. "Because of our experience in the radio space, combined with our shared history as Detroit-based companies, a natural partnership quickly developed," jacAPPS Vice President/General Manager Paul Jacobs comments. "From there, identifying a radio partner for our announcement was an easy call. Greater Media, who has iconic radio stations here in Detroit - WRIF, WCSX, and WMGC - as well as great radio brands in Philadelphia, Boston, Charlotte, and New Jersey - was the obvious choice."

"This is a major breakthrough for the radio industry," jacAPPS President Fred Jacobs observes. "Radio and cars are like peanut butter and jelly - always connected. We will now be able to take mobile applications and provide code to allow them to be fully integrated with SYNC© AppLink, gain important real estate on the cars' screen, voice command functionality, and more. This gives radio stations an important piece of digital real estate in the one area where the lion's share of listening takes place - the car."

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