SAN FRANCISCO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. automaker Ford Motor is making its software update available to its model-year 2016 vehicles via wireless internet connection for the first time.
Ford announced Friday that owners of model-year 2016 Ford vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 software can access a new version "by downloading the update to a USB drive, visiting a dealership or automatically through a Wi-Fi connection."
"Customers with Wi-Fi-enabled vehicles and a Wi-Fi network can set up their vehicle to receive the update automatically."
Though Ford since 2009 has been issuing upgrades for SYNC, an interactive touch-screen system for vehicles, this is the first time the automaker is offering an update over-the-air via Wi-Fi.
In Wi-Fi-enabled vehicles with Automatic System Updates turned on within SYNC 3, the system will periodically connect to a owner's designated Wi-Fi network to check for updates. If an update is available, the system automatically downloads the update in the background over a period of time without customer interaction.
As a factory-installed, integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system, Ford SYNC allows users to make hands-free telephone calls, control music and perform other functions with the use of voice commands.
SYNC 3 currently supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which were developed by Google Inc. and Apple Inc. respectively as standards to enable smartphone uses in vehicles, on all model-year 2017 Ford cars including the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Mustang models, sports utility vehicle (SUV) models including the Escape, Explorer and Expedition, F-Series trucks and Ford's electrified vehicles.
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