Ford’s voice recognition media control system, SYNC, has recently been offered a software update to promote safer driving. When coupled with a compatible smartphone, the G1 V3.2.2 update will allow text messages to be read aloud. This Message Access Profile (MAP) Bluetooth has been custom-made for the automotive world so emails, SMS and MMS can be quickly exchanged between two devices. The adoption of MAP was done to improve the relationship between phones and Ford vehicles.
“A limited population of phones has the capability to work with the text message readback feature of SYNC,” said Mark Porter, supervisor of SYNC Product Development. “With our initial adoption of MAP for our latest generation of SYNC and our recent efforts to integrate it into our previous variations of the system, we hope we are setting an example that encourages more collaboration between Ford, the phonemakers and the wireless industry to help drivers find smarter alternatives to hand-held texting while on the road.”
The software update is currently available on a select generation-1 2011 and 2012 Ford SYNC vehicles. It can be downloaded and installed free of charge.
Source: Ford
