Send to SYNC enables BT phones to beam Google Maps to Ford navigation systems
By Darren Murph 
posted June 8th 2010 10:49AM
posted June 8th 2010 10:49AM
Ford Adds Google Maps 'Send to SYNC' Service to Beam Driving Directions Into Car; No Extra Cost
DEARBORN, Mich., June 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
* Ford adds Google Maps to its 'Send to SYNC' feature, allowing drivers to send destinations from Google Maps to their Ford vehicle through the cloud-based SYNC® Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) app
* Drivers download destination information into the vehicle via their Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones; the information will be processed into audible turn-by-turn directions, eliminating the need to bring printed maps into the car and helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road
* 'Send to SYNC' launches later this month and will be available for existing 2010-11 models equipped with SYNC TDI; no extra hardware, software updates or costs are required
Drivers who enjoy the convenience of Ford SYNC® with Traffic, Directions & Information (TDI) soon will be able to select a destination on Google Maps and send it to their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles.
'Send to SYNC' is a new capability added to the Ford Service Delivery Network, the company's cloud-based architecture, which provides a suite of voice-activated services accessible through a customer's mobile phone.
"Printing paper directions from a website is a relic in our digital age," said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services Solutions Organization. "With Send to SYNC, you can map a destination at home, at work – wherever you have connectivity – and when you get to your car, it already knows where you want to go. It's convenient and it eliminates the waste and distraction of paper maps, conserving resources while helping drivers keep their eyes on the road."
The SYNC TDI application leverages a customer's mobile phone voice plan and the vehicle's integrated GPS receiver to deliver location-based services, such as driving directions or business searches, and on-demand information such as horoscopes, news, movie listings and stock quotes. Since these services, including the new Send to SYNC functionality, are cloud-based, no vehicle updates are required and they will be available to all owners who have registered for TDI services through www.syncmyride.com.
When users visit Google Maps on the web to find locations, they will have the option to send a selected destination to their Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle via a "send" menu on the site. Once in the vehicle, the driver connects to SYNC TDI using the "Services" voice command, and when prompted, confirms the request to download the Google Maps destination into the vehicle.
The optimal route is calculated in the cloud using the latest traffic information, downloaded to the vehicle and navigation guidance begins. If the vehicle is equipped with a map-based navigation system, the destination point is downloaded directly to that system, which then calculates the route based on the in-vehicle navigation preferences set by the driver.
"Our cloud-based service network is helping deliver constant improvement for our customers, and has become a key reason why Ford leads the industry with SYNC," said VanDagens. "We're proud to be working with Google to bring this new capability to SYNC."
The Google Maps 'Send to SYNC' capability launches later this month. Ford is currently the only automaker offering this capability without requiring a paid subscription to a telematics service.
Ford previously announced the same feature for MapQuest (owned by AOL), which will launch later this year.
Ford. Making bold moves... Never thought I'd see it (in this lifetime anyways)
@mrstef
There was a time when men never used maps. Never asked for directions. Did not use GPS system to find their fu**ing offices!
@egress63
Ya, but they all got fired for being late cause they got lost ;).
@mrstef Why 'send to sync' and not the more obvious 'sync to sync' or 'sync 2 sync'?
@JamesR
If not getting lost is what matters I definitely wouldn't be using Google Maps. I actually had to switch to Bing's directions because Google would send me down roads that didn't exist or had the places I was trying to get to be in a completely different area than they really are.
I wish I could use Google maps to send directions to my Camero's onStar, mapquest kind of sucks.
@wraith404
onStar will work with Google maps by the end of this month
...Wow. That's a great idea. My wife swears by Google Maps, and this is a terrific idea. I hate fumbling around in my car with my GPS, and this would make it so much easier. Still got another 3 years left of my lease, but I can just imagine the new features they'll add when it's time for me to get a new car.
Good to see some auto makers are getting it. Other manufacturers take note. Using tech can help you sell cars.
So...wouldn't your phone's google maps need to be updated too, to get the "send to SYNC" button, or is it done in some other way? My mom has a new Edge with SYNC, and an iPhone, and this would be pretty great for her.
@clarinetJWD
Use the browser.. maps.google.com.
Just come out already, Sync-bot.
"the latest breakout addition may make those who swear by third-party routing systems think twice"
Okay. Thought twice. Still sticking with my Garmin.
Take this plus the release of the Ford Fiesta FINALLY in the US......Ford is going to be making some bank! I hope other auto manufactures follow suit!!
@mjkxxl
yeah, i'm waiting for the 2011 fusions to come out before I jump on.
@pavelbure Yeah those are nice cars to be sure. I am just stoked that FINALLY companies are starting to see how great integration with technology is. If I was Google/Ford I would make sure the bugs are out of the system and then market this to high hell.
@mjkxxl
Never thought I'd want a Ford but that new Focus is looking mighty tempting, especially with all this new techy goodness.
@phobic99 Yeah I was thinking the same thing LOL! I live in the Twin Cities here in MN and there is always talk of them closing the Ford plant that makes the Mid-Sized Ranger Truck. Seriously Ford needs to convert the plant to make these the Fiesta Diesel Cars. 62.5 MPG combined (gets over 70mpg on highway). This would sell so well, and I am pretty sure emissions are on par with Gasoline vehicle (not sure on that though, pretty sure I read it but can't find source).
@mjkxxl Ah found the article from Wired. 65MPG combined, over 70 on highway, less CO2 emissions than a Prius....Why do we get screwed in the US LOL?
Now what about those new AT&T Data Plans lol
@EzB Whats that got to do with anything?
Wow... If only another car manufacturer that wasn't ford was able to come up with an amazing idea like this....
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/2011-audi-a8-the-first-production-vehicle-equipped-with-google/
Where are you other car manufacturer?
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/13/audi-and-nvidia-bring-3d-acceleration-google-earth-to-the-dashb/
I mean you would think that a solution this simple would already be in another car somewhere already....
What will be next? The first factory installed wireless hotspot option? Ford, always leading the way...
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/24/2011-audi-a8-available-with-factory-installed-wireless-internet/
@Mills00013
an audi a8 is hardly a mainstream car, airplanes have inflight entertainment and trains have bathrooms on them...were talking about the average consumer at non premium prices
@Mills00013
Right because comparing a $76,000 base model to cars in the $10,000-20,000 makes a whole lot of sense.
Just admit that Ford is doing a good thing, steadily making changes to adapt to what the people really want. They don't make all perfect decisions but if they do something right at least applaud their efforts.
@Mills00013
No I completely agree about the comparision standard here, and no its not fair to compare these two cars directly.
My comment is specifically aimed at Darren Murph who yet again cannot do his own research.
If his article had stated "At long last, low priced auto manufacturer has figured out...." instead of "At long last, one automaker has figured out how to merge Google Maps with its own in-car solution..." then he might have a good point.
My comment aims to point out that Darren needs to learn how to use Google a bit instead of writing out of his ass.
Here Darren, I'll help you out: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=google+maps+factory+installed
@Mills00013
Low price brings to mind Hyundai; I got them down to 65k on my 09 4x4 F-250 and while I'm completely happy with it I don't consider that a low price.
@Mills00013
Again, my point has nothing to do with the cars themselves. Or the price points. My point is that saying something like "Ford's obviously the first to make such a bold move..." is just blatantly flat out wrong. Because they are not the first.
Thats the point. Not the prices or the comparison between the two. I am beginning to think that Darren doesn't read Engadget. Its this pretty cool tech site where you can find out about things like this. You know. When you saw the tech in person at CES in January and when they were announced months prior:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/audi-teams-up-with-nvidia-for-next-gen-mmi-replete-with-google-e/
@From My Cube
Surely GM makes some mainstream cars?
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/08/google-plays-the-field-adds-maps-to-onstar/
@High
In the defense of In My Cube this article was written and announced officially by GM right after the Google/Ford announcement was made. So it could either be a very quickly thrown together retorsion or Google might have just had NDA's for both parties until now.
How sad for Microsoft, their product being used to promote their competitors search, Microsoft, WAKE UP!!!
This isn't compatible with my 2010 fusion that already has navigation, since models like this don't use the cloud app, Ohwell. Using voice input to start a navigate route works really well, fords sync has really good recognition.
How about us 2009 SYNC owners?
@kcmurphy88
Guess we're screwed; I still love SYNC though.
I'm glad I bought a 2009 model. Sigh.
What Ford really needs to do is bolt something like an iPad into their cars. My 2009 Nav system's traffic data is pretty much obsoleted by my iPhone's Google maps, which shows street-level traffic,
Microsoft's SYNC system using Google Maps?!? No love for Bing Maps???
super fantastic capability in either case though
My Lincoln's Nav system kept trying to take me to an expressway last night, so being able to do this will be great!
SYNC is awesome... if you're native language is English. If you have any kind of accent, or try to pronounce words/names that don't necessarily have their roots in mid-Western English without pronouncing them phonetically, SYNC won't have any idea what it is you're trying to say. There should be language packs available (for purchase?) that you can add to your system to allow you to speak in your native tongue if you so desire.
To the people complaining about MS Sync using Google Maps ... isn't that what's supposed to happen? Would you really have preferred Ford to lock drivers in to Bing Maps? Don't you use Google Maps on Windows PCs all the time? At least MS is making money from whatever OS licensing deal they have with Ford, I'm pretty sure Google isn't making jack squat (directly) from this new feature.
Huh? My BMW has been doing this for over a year now. They're definately not first to the party. Albeit their solution is quite compelling
@spideraven
Goto maps.google.com.
Put in an address
Hit the send link on top right corner
Pick Send to Car in the pop up dialog
Pick BMW
@spideraven
Agreed. When I got my BMW several months ago, the BMW Assist agent told me I could send info from Google Maps to my car. From what I understand, it only sends destinations (haven't really tried it myself yet) and the car's internal navigation system does the actual routing. So yeah, this really isn't anything completely new.
@ozoneic
Exactly. And you can also use http://www.bmw-routes.com/de/en/index.jsp to plan multi-destination routes, save it to a USB stick, and then download it to your car via the USB port.
Only thing sucks is that they pulled the service in North America. Only avail in Europe.
Finally! It's about time someone had the sense to do this. It should work as simply as this:
When I add an event in my phone, I should put the location information correctly. Then, if I start the car it checks upcoming appointments. If there's an appointment 30 minutes away coming up within an hour or two, the car should prompt me: "You have an appointment in 1 hour at . Do you want guidance to this destination?"
Then all I have to click is "yes" to get my GPS route.
My first thoughts on the whole Ford SYNC thing were that it was just some gimmick... but after buying my 2010 Ford Raptor, I've come to love this system. The GPS on it is amazing compared to the Garmins I had been using before.
If I'm reading this right, this will be available for my 2010?
This whole move with SYNC by ford is brilliant.
I wouldn't buy their car JUST because of it.
But that along with improving quality and them beginning to bring some of their winning euro efficiency and design capability to the states will put my butt in one of their cars to test drive next time around.
And that would mark the first time I would have been looking at something from any of the big 3 US makers as a new vehicle purchase.
hahaahahah.....
I'll bet microsoft is happy.
Didn't they help design these SYNC systems?
But no bing maps.... hahahahahahahaha.
I much prefer google anywow.
Though Bings birds-eye view is nice when available.
It would be better still if I did not have to mess with bluetooth and phones and the like.
I would really like my sync system to simply be able to be set up so it is just present on my wi-fi and I can move music to-from it and send routes or POIs to the map etc...
Change settings, and all that good stuff.
I have a 2010 Mustang GT, and there will be no "beaming" of anything from bluetooth phones to the sync system. TDI uses a voice connection through your bluetooth phone to a cloud-based service. The service transmits route information to the car through the voice connection similar to how a modem works. This "send to sync" stuff just sends a message to the cloud service containing your google maps info so you can request it from the TDI service.
Don't get your hopes up, this isn't some advanced bluetooth integration. This works with any bluetooth phone as sync only needs to call the cloud services number to download the route.
"Best of all, the feature's being added completely free of charge on existing 2010 and 2011 models equipped with SYNC TDI"
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!
I have a Fusion Sport (FWD), and this would be AWESOME to have if it could show up on my Navigation screen! :D