GPS is now an APP

TomTom and the GPS devices we knew when the commercial satellite positioning revolution was beginning are now just another component of a mobile phone or a pocket computer. 47 percent of European car users and 58 percent of Americans use applications while driving, according to Ford at the "The App Date" sessions. Almost half of drivers use apps at the wheel. Apps are becoming increasingly common while driving. Ford SYNC AppLink development manager Scott Lyons has presented in Madrid the system that allows using apps at the wheel safely and has stated that they will arrive in Spain in spring. In addition to this tool making cars become new "devices" for using apps, the SYNC AppLink system allows controlling applications with voice commands safely, without taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel. In any case, and as Ford demonstrates at its "The App Date" sessions, the use of mobile applications in vehicles is a reality, so brands are beginning to implement systems that allow using them safely. At the first edition of the year of "The App Date", which had the support of Microsoft, Lyons emphasized the brands' commitment to systems that allow the safe use of apps, insisting that when buying a car, 39 percent of buyers consider entertainment systems a priority in their choice. Ford highlighted that, increasingly, "buyers are looking for personalized driving experiences and apps must respond to those needs", always paying attention to safety. Developers are invited to devise applications adapted for safe use at the wheel.