Amazon Cloud Player expands to Ford Sync AppLink vehicles

February 13, 2013 | By Jason Ankeny

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is extending its Cloud Player music streaming service to Ford Motor Company vehicles equipped with the automaker's voice-activated Sync AppLink technology.

According to Amazon, Ford owners can wirelessly connect the Amazon MP3 app on their Android smartphone to the Sync connectivity system to access their entire Cloud Player music library in their car, leveraging either simple voice commands or the vehicle's dashboard audio controls. Motorists may listen to music saved on their Android device or play tracks stored in their Cloud Player library.

Sync AppLink technology supports hands-free, Bluetooth-enabled access to voice calling and digital music services like Pandora, Stitcher and iHeartRadio, as well as on-demand diagnostic and maintenance information. Consumers may also upgrade to cloud-based turn-by-turn directions, traffic reports and business search information. Sync AppLink services are supported on more than a million Ford vehicles, including the 2013 Fiesta, Mustang, Expedition, Fusion, F-150, Super Duty, Focus, E-Series and C-MAX.

Last month, Ford launched a new developer program including access to the AppLink SDK, which contains code libraries and documentation for APIs supporting two-way communication between mobile apps and the vehicle, including voice commands from the driver. According to Ford, more than three dozen AppLink-compatible apps for Apple's iOS (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android are already publicly available after SDK beta tests with select developers.

Amazon introduced Cloud Player in early 2011 and now supports platforms including its own Kindle Fire tablets as well as Android, iOS Mac, PC, Sonos, Roku and Samsung TVs. Cloud Player Free customers can store all MP3 music purchased at Amazon, plus import up to 250 songs from their PC or Mac at no charge. Cloud Player Premium, priced at $24.99 per year, allows customers to import and store up to 250,000 songs. Amazon-purchased MP3s (including all previous purchases) do not count against either the 250 or 250,000-song limits and are added to both Free and Premium Cloud Player libraries at no charge.

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