Ford and Jacobs Media’s JacAPPS are working together to get radio station apps onto Ford’s Sync system.
The automaker announced that JacAPPS will be its recommended mobile app development house for the new Ford Developer Program. JacAPPS will provide development and technical support to third-party developers wanting to create voice-activated smartphone apps for Ford Sync AppLink.
Both companies are near each other in the Detroit market and working together was a natural fit, JacAPPS VP/GM Fred Jacobs told Radio World. “The dashboard is now a computer and finding individual radio stations on these platforms is challenging,” he said.
So far, the station apps will appear as text such as call letters or a station slogan; an icon is planned for a future upgrade.
The apps can be for AM, FM, HD Radio main and multicast channels.
Partnering in the announcement was Greater Media, for which JacAPPS built 16 apps for both iPhone and Android.
Jacobs noted Greater Media has “iconic” brands in Philadelphia, Boston, Charlotte and New Jersey, according to Jacobs. The 16 Greater Media station apps with Ford Sync functionality are now live in the iTunes App Store and Google Play market.
“We anticipate being an integral part of the connected car and offering added functionality to our heritage brands,” said Greater Media Chairman/CEO Peter Smyth.
Stations that want to work with JacAPPS to get their station app on Ford Sync AppLink would contract with both companies. JacAPPS will provide support for all developers interested in integrating their apps with the Ford Sync AppLink system for voice commands and other functions.
