Ford is joining the platoon of smartwatch app providers, catching up with car producers such as Volvo and Hyundai. The wrist control does not mean you can drive your car by tapping the touchscreen, but rather that you are in control of its internal status at all times.
The updates Ford did on the MyFord Mobile app enable both Apple Watch and Android Wear owners to get all their car data on their smartwatch instead of smartphone.
What exactly do these gizmos allow users to do? Users can lock or unlock the car from a distance and without a key, command the car to warm up from outside, check the general mileage, see facts from the last road trip, analyze one's driving score and even receive directions to the position of the vehicle. After all, everyone loses their car in the parking lot once in a while.
The personal driving score measures how efficiently and smoothly one's driving style is. If the driver refrains from using sudden brakes and starts in a gentle manner, the score increases. If, on the other hand, the driver summons his or her inner Jeff Gordon, he or she gets a lower score.
The catch is that the app is only compatible with Ford's battery electric or plug-in hybrid models. To make proper use of the app on one's smartwatch, the user needs to drive a Ford C-MAX Energi, Ford Focus Electric or Ford Fusion Energi. This is because of connectivity issues. The electric and hybrid models come equipped with cellular modems, while the rest of Ford's regular cars don't. The watches' wireless functionality depends on the installed modems on the vehicles.
"The app gives drivers the ability to quickly check important data like available range before leaving on a journey&mash;without having to access the mobile application on their smartphone. The app can also notify users when their car is fully charged, helping a driver be courteous to other electric vehicle owners so they can free up the charging spot," stated David Hatton, Ford manager of connected vehicles and services.
Both Apple Store and Google Play Store offer the driver-destined apps for download.
