Ford Fiesta first with Sync apps

Last week, I brought up Ford's new Sync technology with mobile app integration. As I'm gearing up to head up to San Francisco to drive the new Ford Fiesta later this week, I received word from Ford that the Fiesta will be the first Ford vehicle to feature "SYNC AppLink". Fitting that I bet most prospective Fiesta buyers own a smart phone or two.

SYNC AppLink allows your apps on your smartphone to communicate with your sync equipped Ford. Voice commands, steering wheel buttons, radio buttons all can control certain applications on your phone. I have to say "certain applications" because applications will need to be modified to work with Sync. Ford has opened up Sync for developers, so Sync friendly apps are sure to be on the way. At launch, Pandora Internet Radio (Sirius who?), Stitcher "smart radio", and OpenBeak Twitter client will be available for Android and Blackberry smartphones.

Which brings me to a new point. The little smartphone that Apple makes (iPhone, or something like that?) won't be immediately available with SYNC AppLink. While Ford promises it'll be available next year, along with backward compatibility with all sync-equipped vehicles, it's still sad news for iPhone users.

Though, never fear, vehicle friendly smartphone apps are here. You can finally stop juggling the steering wheel and Droid while eating a sandwich cruising down the 101. Check out some demonstration videos from Ford after the jump.