Ford ads SiriusXM Internet Radio app to Sync AppLink option list

By Stephen Edelstein Published June 20, 2013

Ford is expanding its Sync AppLink menu with the addition of SiriusXM internet radio. Ford says it’s the first carmaker to offer the service.

Ford’s SiriusXM app will include MySXM, which allows listeners to personalize their channels, and Sirius XM On Demand, which does what its name says using a catalog of over 300 shows, Ford says. All internet radio functions will be controlled through the same interface as the rest of Sync.

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That means drivers will have a choice of conventional center stack radio controls, steering wheel controls, and voice commands to find their favorite tunes.

Sync AppLink is Ford’s way of bridging the gap between mobile apps and in-car infotainment. Both iOS and Android users with compatible apps can sync (no pun intended) their devices with their vehicles, streaming and controlling content through the onboard infotainment system.

Apps currently offered through Sync AppLink include music services Pandora and Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Cloud Player, and Stitcher.

Ford says it has over one million Sync-equipped vehicles on the road. The system is available on most Ford models, from the lowly Fiesta subcompact to icons like the Mustang and the F-Series trucks.

After purchasing a new Ford, customers get a free six month subscription to SiriusXM. Using internet radio requires downloading a compatible app to their phones.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Power-management firm Eaton likes to point out that when it launched in 1911, it invested in a new idea -- the very first gear-driven truck axle -- just at a time when both transportation and power management were on the cusp of dramatic change.
More than 113 years later, Eaton is again seeking to lead innovation in the current energy transition.
The power-management firm just signed a deal with Treehouse, an AI, software-enabled installation platform for electrification projects. The end goal: accelerating the electrification of homes for electric-vehicle (EV) charging, energy storage, or heat pumps, while seeking more efficiency and cost savings.
“At Eaton, we’re all-in on the energy transition and we’re making it happen at scale by delivering breakout technologies and industry collaborations needed to delight customers and make it more accessible and affordable,” says Paul Ryan, general manager of Connected Solutions and EV Charging at Eaton.
The partnership will ensure consumers are provided with accurate and fast pricing, as well as access to licensed electricians to deliver code-compliant installations, the companies say.
The collaboration also integrates into Eaton’s “Home as a Grid” approach, which supports the two-way flow of electricity, enabling homeowners to produce and consume renewable energy when they need it, Eaton says.
“For more than a century, power has flowed in one direction—from centralized power plants into homes,” the company says. “Today, there’s a new reality thanks to solar, electric-vehicle charging, energy storage, digitalization, and more.”
Projects to change homes and EVs into energy hubs have multiplied recently.
Last month, Nissan joined ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda. ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects EVs to power grids and utility companies, enabling consumers to receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. Eventually, consumers should also be able to sell the energy stored in their EVs’ battery back to the power grid.
In August, GM announced that V2G technology will become standard in all its model year 2026 models. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted that Tesla could introduce V2G technology for its vehicles in 2025.

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According to research from Kelley Blue Book, the respected vehicle-valuation firm, overall incentives on new vehicle sales were up by 60% in October compared to the previous year.

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