OREANDA-NEWS. November 05, 2015. Ford Motor Company today announced that Ministry of Sound, a music streaming service, is among three new voice control apps for Ford SYNC with AppLink – ahead of leading technology conference Web Summit taking place in Dublin from Nov. 3-5.

Ministry of Sound, Wetter.de and n-tv join the recently announced Meople.Connector app – offering updates from social media networks such as Twitter and LinkedIn – as the newest Ford SYNC with AppLink partners to further enhance the Ford in-car experience. First introduced in Europe in 2013, Ford’s SYNC with AppLink technology already enables drivers to voice-activate apps while keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. 

“By working with the developer community to create the auto industry’s only app developer program, Ford is now able to deliver unique voice controlled in-car experiences for our customers, from listening to the latest dance music to receiving breaking news, weather and social media updates,” said Don Butler, executive director, Connected Vehicle and Services, Ford Motor Company.

Ford will demonstrate the Ministry of Sound app at Web Summit using Oculus Rift virtual reality technology. Wearing Oculus Rift goggles, visitors will be able to sit in a car seat and experience elements of the application while being virtually transported to far-flung locations like pool side in Ibiza or the middle of Ministry’s iconic London club. 

Ford’s SYNC AppLink technology already enables drivers to voice-activate smartphone apps, including ADAC, Audioteka, AUPEO!, Cityseeker by Wcities, Cyclops, DetektorFM , DIE WELT, Eventseeker by Wcities, Glympse, Goal Live Scores, Radioplayer, Roald Dahl Audiobooks, Soundtracker, and Spotify.

The new apps extend the range of information, entertainment and services on offer:

Ministry of Sound enables drivers to listen to the dance music brand’s live radio station and to choose from genre channels such as Anthems, Chilled, I Am Raver, I Love House, Running Trax and Throwback. Ministry of Sound is the U.K.’s number one dance and house club, and the app enables drivers to listen to the artists that play in the club. The app will soon be available on iOS and Android in English

Wetter.de can use the vehicle’s display and audio system to deliver current weather information based on GPS location, including temperature, risk of rain, and wind speed and direction. Ford’s first weather app partner for Germany also enables drivers to know the three-day forecast, set their favourite locations and be alerted to weather warnings. The app will soon be available on Android in German

n-tv enables drivers to listen to international, national and business news both with comprehensive and abbreviated reports, and to access selected news articles from n-tv editorial. Drivers can also be informed about breaking news via headlines shown on the vehicle display. The app is available on iOS and Android in German

Both Wetter.de and n-tv apps are offered for AppLink as part of Ford’s collaboration with the leading German media company Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland. Further app partnerships are being developed that will combine to deliver a suite of apps covering a range of categories and services. 

“We believe that relevant news and attractive entertainment offerings will gain more and more significance in the car of the future,” said Marc Schr?der, managing director, RTL interactive, and member of the board of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland responsible for the strategic Business Development. “Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland together with Ford is committed to invest into this growth area. With our leading news offering n-tv and reliable weather information by Wetter.de, we keep our users up to speed while they are driving.”

Butler will deliver a keynote address at Web Summit on Nov. 4 titled “Car Connectivity: How Software is Changing the Driving Experience”. Ford and Web Summit also are hosting the SYNC AppLink Developer Challenge Dublin, offering programmers a chance at €75,000 prize money and the opportunity to develop new apps with Ford. In addition, Ford is partnering with leading advisory firm WeiserMazars to offer services worth €25,000 for winning entrants.