Ford Developer Program registrations top 1,000 in first week

More than 1,000 software developers have registered for access to Ford Motor Company's AppLink SDK since the Ford Developer Program launched earlier this week, the automaker reports.

In an email to FierceMobileContent, a Ford spokesperson said traffic to the developer program's Website has averaged 300 unique visitors per hour since the portal opened Monday.

The Ford Developer Program provides the tools, information and technical support to enable developers to build voice-activated mobile applications optimized for in-car use. The AppLink SDK, available for download here, 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) are already publicly available after SDK beta tests with select developers; at present, most AppLink-enabled apps focus on the News and Information, Music and Entertainment, and Navigation and Location categories.

Developers can also leverage Ford's Sync technology, which provides connectivity and voice control for phones and music players via Bluetooth or USB. Services including Pandora, Stitcher, iHeartRadio and Scout already integrate Sync. Other new app partners joining the Ford AppLink ecosystem include The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Rhapsody and Glympse, which this week signed on to offer its voice-enabled location sharing app via the Ford platform.

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.

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