• Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford is scheduled to speak on the opening day of Web Summit, one of the world’s leading technology conferences, which takes place in Dublin Nov. 3-5
• Ford is inviting developers to take part in a 24-hour challenge to design apps for SYNC, Ford’s voice-activated connectivity system
• The SYNC AppLink Developer Challenge Dublin is organised with Web Summit; offers €75,000 prize money, opportunity to develop new apps with Ford
   

COLOGNE, Germany, Oct. 7, 2015 – Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford will speak on the opening day of Web Summit, one of the world’s leading conferences for technology and ideas.

Web Summit, which takes place in Dublin from Nov. 3-5, is expected to attract more than 22,000 people from 110 countries.

In addition, Ford Motor Company is inviting developers to take part in a 24-hour challenge to design apps for SYNC, Ford’s voice activated, in-car connectivity system. The SYNC AppLink Developer Challenge Dublin is organised with Web Summit and will give programmers a chance at €75,000 prize money and the opportunity to develop new apps with Ford.

SYNC AppLink Challenge Dublin, which starts at 09:00 WET, on Nov. 2 will give developers 24 hours to come up with new ideas or enable their existing iOS or Android apps to work with Ford’s advanced voice-activated connectivity system. Bill Ford also will meet with the developers participating in the challenge to discuss his vision for the future of mobility and how technology will make people’s lives better.

“Web Summit has grown from attracting 400 people in 2010 into being one of the most important gatherings of startups on the planet. Ford was the original disruptor – putting the world on wheels, and we couldn’t wish for a more inspiring and relevant speaker than Bill Ford, who has long been a champion of technology and mobility,” said Paddy Cosgrave, CEO and co-founder, Web Summit.

SYNC AppLink Challenge Dublin is the first SYNC developer challenge in Europe and follows successful SYNC developer events in Australia, Brazil, China, and the U.S., with another upcoming challenge also planned for Tel Aviv, Israel. Developer teams will be able to work hands-on with SYNC via special technical development kits located on-site.

Since its launch in 2013, more than 13,000 developers have registered for the automotive industry’s first Developer Program, with more than 24,000 software development kits downloaded. Developers use the AppLink application programming interface to create their own SYNC apps.

“Smartphones are central to our lives – at home, at work, and on the road. Working with innovators from outside of the automotive industry is a proven way of generating ideas that can enhance the driving experience,” said Scott Lyons, business and partner development, Connected Vehicle and Services, Ford of Europe. “SYNC AppLink Challenge is the ideal opportunity to tap into the talent that can generate truly innovative and disruptive ideas with the potential to be translated to reality.”

Ford continues to play an active role in the tech and developer community to drive innovation. Previous developer challenges led to the development and deployment in the U.S. of apps such as ROXIMITY, which identifies discounts and notifications based on the vehicle’s location.

In Europe, Ford’s AppLink technology already enables drivers to voice-activate a range of  smartphone apps, including ADAC, Audioteka, AUPEO!, Cityseeker by Wcities, Cyclops, DetektorFM , DIE WELT, Eventseeker by Wcities, Glympse, Goal Live Scores, Radioplayer, Roald Dahl Audiobooks, Soundtracker, and Spotify.

Developer teams have until Oct. 31 to register online for AppLink Challenge Dublin at https://dublin.makeitdriveable.com/.