Ford Integrates SYNC with Amazon Echo, Letting You Control Your Car from the Cloud
Some families have a chaotic morning routine; If you’ve been making the best use out of your Amazon Echo in efforts to streamline your morning routine, you’ve probably gotten in the habit of saying:
“Alexa, what is the forecast today?”
“Alexa, what is the traffic like?”
What if you could say:
“Alexa, could you start my car?”
It might sound like a futuristic utopia, however, you might be surprised to know that this technology may already exist within your late-model Ford vehicle.
In a press release, Ford has noted that they have added support for Alexa, the Amazon Echo virtual assistant, within the Ford SYNC infotainment system giving consumers a leg up on those who wish to automate tasks that they’d like to perform with their automobiles.
Just imagine on those cold winter mornings when your windshields are frosted over. You could say,
“Alexa, please warm up my car.”
“Alexa, unlock the doors to my car.”
According to Ford, nearly 50% of consumers will buy a device for their smart home within the next year. With Amazon Echo being such a holiday hit, integrating Amazon Echo with Ford vehicles that are equipped with SYNC seems like a logical next step.
“Consumers increasingly want to stay connected to their homes while on the move,” says Don Butler, Ford executive director, Connected Vehicle and Services.
“Linking smart devices like Amazon Echo and Wink to vehicles via SYNC would fulfill that desire, and allow consumers to connect with their vehicles even when they aren’t behind the wheel.”
Alexa can also tell you facts about your car such as your estimated fuel range, battery statuses for hybrid cars, GPS functions and more.
Ford also mentions that it is working with Wink, the smart home platform creator, in order further integrate the automobile with the smart home using the cloud.
