Ford owners in Europe and North America will be able to use what3words location technology to help them navigate through Ford’s SYNC3 infotainment platform.
This new partnership with the automaker means drivers can enter precise destinations by voice or text input easier, faster and with fewer errors. It also enables them to navigate to any spot on the planet; including those without an address using only three words.
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Designed for voice input, what3words is a global addressing system which divides the world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares and assigns each a unique three word address – made of three dictionary words. ///recover.uniform.call for example, finds one of the best viewpoints at Park Gueell, while ///winkle.scholarship.kinds is the start of a hiking trail in Montserrat, just outside of Barcelona. The system is available in 26 languages, works offline and has built-in error prevention so the driver doesn’t end up at the wrong place.
Street addresses weren’t created for the way the world navigates today. A recent study found that 74% of UK residents have a home address that people, deliveries and services struggle to find. Addresses can be long, complex and vary in format, which makes them frustrating for drivers to input. A post code can cover large areas, rather than specific entrances, and street names are not unique – there are 14 Church Roads in London. Importantly, street addresses don’t cover everywhere – parks, industrial complexes, beaches and sports fields are off limits to many navigation systems.
The added precision, ease-of-use and universal coverage is why people and business around the world are adopting the system, what3words claims.
The initial introduction will enable Ford drivers to connect the free what3words app – on an iOS or Android device – to their vehicle via the SYNC 3 infotainment platform. They can then input a three word address by voice or text, in six languages, and navigate to that precise 3m x 3m square. Drivers can find the 3 word address on website contact pages, guidebooks and business cards.
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By GlobalDataIn the UK, an estimated 40% of those using voice assistants, are using it in their vehicle.
The partnership with Ford is claimed to be marks a significant leap in user experience when using voice commands: instead of entering long and complex addresses, drivers can say three words and know they will end up in the right place, every time. The ability to input addresses hands-free is also safer and less distracting.
Chris Sheldrick, CEO and co-founder of what3words, said: “We are more mobile than ever before, but with that comes its challenges. The growing traction that what3words is gaining within the automobility industry is a testament to how we are improving journeys and customer experiences.
“Our partnership with Ford cuts through common driver frustrations, for the first time offering precise navigation by voice to accurate addresses.”
Don Butler, executive director, Connected Vehicle Platform and Product, Ford, said: “With the addition of what3words to the AppLink and wider SmartDeviceLink ecosystem, Ford is providing an important new tool to help get the job done, enabling drivers to navigate to their destinations quickly, confidently and accurately.”
what3words is now available for text and voice input in Ford vehicles in the UK & Ireland (English), Germany (German), Spain (Spanish), US (English and Spanish) and Mexico (Spanish) with more languages and markets to follow later this year. The service is free for iOS and Android but requires an embedded navigation system and any version of the SYNC 3 software.
The system is also used by Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz and Dutch navigation system and maps supplier TomTom.
