Vehicle manufacturer Ford said that its Sync AppLink technology is “migrating” to a new group of its 2012 products, which will give “more vehicle owners the opportunity to enjoy intuitive voice control of and access to their smartphone apps on the go.” According to Bloomberg, the company has already hired software engineers from Nokia, Microsoft and CSC, and is looking for a chief technologist and developers, to bolster its mobile app strategy. In a statement, Ford said that it is “aggressively building its team of in-car connected services experts, with plans to grow the global Connected Services Solutions Organization fourfold over the next four years.”  It also said that some 2,500 developers have expressed an interest in creating apps for Ford through its dedicated Sync developer website.

Ford began offering AppLink as a download for customers of one car late in 2010: it will be available on 10 during 2012. The company said that by using an SDK available to developers, it is possible to create apps with Sync integration in categories such as personalised entertainment; personalised information and news, location-based services; and notifications and alerts which use the ability to “mash up” vehicle information, GPS location, “and more”. Current apps available are for music streaming services Pandora and Stitcher and Twitter client OpenBeak – platforms supported by various products are iOS, Android and BlackBerry.

Late last year, Ford used the CTIA Enterprise and Applications show to woo the developer community, although it was noted that the SDK will not be open to all – the company is focusing on titles “appropriate for safe in-car use.”