Automobile maker Ford will arm its 2016 Ford Escape and Fiesta vehicles with SYNC3 technology, a communications and entertainment system capable of responding to driver's commands.
Ford SYNC, currently installed in more than 12 million vehicles worldwide, is an in-car connectivity technology featuring new hardware and software.
Offering voice-activated technology for smartphones, it features a simple command structure. This has been referred as an upgrade to AppLink that allows customers to connect their smartphone to their vehicle and control compatible apps using voice or buttons on the display screen.
Ford Motor - US marketing, sales and service vice-president Mark LaNeve said: "SYNC always has been about providing a safer way for our customers to connect their smartphones in order to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
"Customers continue to tell us they want this technology, and they want it to be fast and easy to use - like a smartphone. SYNC 3 delivers on that request."
SYNC 3, when connected to an Apple iPhone, provides an integration of Siri Eyes-Free capability by holding down SYNC's Push to Talk steering wheel button.
The SYNC 3 can also be operated hands-free. The home screen shows three zones - navigation, audio and phone - in a tile-like arrangement. It can be updated via Wi-Fi.
It features One Box Search that makes search for points of interest and addresses in a fashion similar to Internet search engine.
