LAS VEGAS—Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co., longtime rivals for control of the road, are now beginning a battle to find the right “app.”
Both auto makers announced Monday they are inviting anyone from software geeks to the everyday driver to develop applications that can be used in their respective vehicles. There are no plans between the two auto makers to share.
Ford said it is opening up access to a specialized application connection software, called AppLink, so it can expand its current crop of 13 programs that connect to its vehicles.
“We think we’re opening up for an entirely new segment of applications,” said Julius Marchwicki who overseas Ford’s application developer efforts. He said Ford will offer a website with documentation and specialized access codes to help developers get started connecting their apps into its cars.
GM will offer a software development kit through its own website as well. Developers can work with GM in a secure and controlled manner to design, test and customize automotive applications. Until now, GM has only offered select developers access, and they had to interact with the auto maker’s OnStar system.
“There will be a category of apps that will be unique to our cars and very different from what people use today on their smartphones or tablets,” GM Chief Infotainment Officer Phil Abram said. “It’s not just taking phone apps and making them functional in a car.”
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(Published January 7, in The Wall Street Journal.)