Glympse, Ford team on in-car location sharing

January 7, 2013 | By Jason Ankeny

Ford Motor Company is adding Glympse's voice-enabled location sharing application to its Sync AppLink in-car software platform, offering motorists a hands-free option for updating their travel schedule.

Glympse enables users to privately update friends, family and colleagues on their location and activities in real-time, for as long (or short) a period as they wish, using simple voice commands. To use Glympse behind the wheel, Ford owners must first download the free application to a smartphone running Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS and Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android; Sync AppLink automatically recognizes the app when the phone is Bluetooth-paired or USB-connected, and from there, drivers can press the Sync voice button on the steering wheel and say "Send Glympse" to a designated contact's email or mobile number, or to Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) or Twitter.

Recipients of a Glympse update may monitor the vehicle's progress and estimated time of arrival via a real-time dynamic map available across the mobile and desktop platforms. After the user-defined time limit expires, the location is no longer updated.

Sync AppLink is available on more than a million Ford vehicles, including the 2013 Fiesta, Mustang, Expedition, Fusion, F-150, Super Duty, Focus, E-Series and C-MAX.

The Ford deal is Glympse's second automaker partnership: In June 2012, the startup inked a similar agreement with Mercedes-Benz. As of last October, more than 3.5 million iOS and Android users have downloaded the Glympse app.

Glympse CEO Bryan Trussel is a panelist at FierceWireless' Living the Digital Life: Embedded Wireless Devices executive breakfast, taking place in Las Vegas on Jan. 8. Click here for details and registration.

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