Ford Partners with Baidu ting and QQ Music to Offer the First- Ever ‘Voice Connected’ Music Experience Inside the New Focus
- Ford is giving Chinese customers access to top music applications on their smartphone via in-car connectivity system Ford SYNC®
- SYNC’s integration of Baidu ting and QQ Music apps will cater to a growing consumer demand to stay connected to their favorite playlist while on the road
- Drivers of the New Focus will be able to enjoy their favourite music from the Baidu ting and QQ Music apps in their smartphone via voice control, all at no extra cost
BEIJING, April 26, 2012 – With China firmly leading the world in smartphone sales, Ford is giving Chinese drivers easy in-car access to key elements of the popular Baidu ting and QQ Music applications through the award-winning voice-activated Ford SYNC® system.
Available in Mandarin in the New Focus, SYNC’s in-car connectivity technology allows customers to safely operate their mobile phone or digital media player via a steering wheel-mounted control and voice commands, all the time with eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
With the latest extension of SYNC’s capability, customers will be able to listen to their favourites on the Baidu ting and QQ Music apps while driving, as long as they have a compatible phone.
“More and more, people want to take control of where and when they listen to music, and SYNC’s integration with Baidu ting and QQ Music gives customers yet another source of music while driving,” said Ed Pleet, Director, Connected Services Group, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa.
“This also marks the beginning of a long-term partnership which will result in deeper and richer voice integration with the music apps.”
“We are really pleased to be working with the two most popular music apps in the Chinese market today. The relationship between Ford and Baidu ting and QQ Music will provide Chinese customers of the New Focus access to their favourite music through these apps, through either use of vehicle controls or simple voice commands – and this service from Ford is completely free, with no additional cost for customers,” said Pleet.
Play music at your command
Research has shown that well over 60% of C-car owners (e.g.: New Focus) in China own a smart phone and over 70% of smart phone owners have Music “Apps” on their phone. More and more drivers are listening to music from their mobile phones, with an increasing number streaming music from their smartphones while on the road.
By integrating key capabilities from Baidu ting and QQ Music with SYNC, Ford is moving ahead in the race to incorporate smart technologies that are easy to use into vehicles.
Drivers of the New Focus can access the music in the apps through the USB port or via Bluetooth® streaming and use either vehicle controls or voice control to provide base commands for the apps. SYNC can even inform the driver of the song that is currently playing with the “What’s this?” command and display music information on the screen.
“We recognise that more drivers are using smartphone apps while driving,” said Pleet. “That’s why Ford decided to become a part of the global solution by giving SYNC users hands-free voice control capability over smartphone apps, delivering the desired connectivity in a safe and responsible way.
Editor’s note:
The Bluetooth word mark is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.
Ford's wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and investment in China include Ford Motor (China) Limited, Ford Motor Research & Engineering (Nanjing) Co., Ltd., Ford Automotive Finance (China) Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. Nanjing Company, Changan Ford Mazda Engine Co., Ltd. and Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd.For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordmotorcompany.com and www.ford.com.cnAbout Baidu tingBaidu ting is a music platform from Baidu, which is a customizable internet music platform that allows music to be matched to listeners’ musical habits. It enables customers to listen to and download personalized radio compiled from a huge music library. When the customers enter a genre or artist, an algorithm recommends tracks that match their own personal taste. Or, they can choose from more than 100 channels specially pre-compiled by Baidu ting’s music managers, such as “The 80s” or “Happy”. It can be downloaded via http://ting.baidu.com/mobile/ for free.About QQ MusicThe terminal version of QQ Music has covered all mobile terminal platforms. With its key feature of online music, QQ Music seeks to build convenient, easy-to-search music listening experience, providing intimate customer service. QQ Music terminal version has more than 150 million users, with active monthly users of 40 million