Ford Sync Brings Daily Deals to the Dashboard
Roximity application alerts drivers to discounts in an area based on their interests.
In a mash-up of the latest automotive technology, smartphone applications and the “daily deal” craze kicked off by Groupon, Ford has announced that Roximity -- “a real-time, location-aware alert service” that lets users know about special discounts in an area -- is now compatible with the Sync AppLink feature.
The Roximity app, which launched earlier this week on the iTunes App Store, lets registered users input individual preferences and interests. Then as they drive (or walk or bike) past businesses that have a deal or special that aligns with those preferences and interests, a notification is sent to their iPhones or iPads letting them know about deals.
After drivers connect their Apple device to Sync via a USB cable and activate the AppLink feature, they can use the system’s voice activation to ask Roximity about deals nearby in categories such as restaurants, spas and salons, home services and men’s or women’s clothing. Roximity will seek discounts in the vicinity, and Sync will show it on a vehicle’s dashboard display and allow calling from a connected phone to get more info.
“While driving, users can simply say, ‘Lunch deals,’ and their favorite lunch options will be read out loud,” said Danny Newman, co-founder and CEO of Roximity, in a statement released by Ford. “Other deal services offer coupons for the entire metropolitan area or for things that are not relevant to you. Roximity is personalized and will provide you what you want, when you want it.”
Integration of the app grew out of the Ford Sync App Developer Challenge at the 2011 TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon. “The launch of Roximity is truly exciting for us, since it was the Sync in-car experience that sparked the team to go from idea to reality,” said Doug VanDagens, global director of Ford Connected Services. “With Roximity, we become the first automaker to offer a personalized, daily-deal location service.”
We’ve been hearing for years that this kind of commercialized location-based service was coming to cars. Allowing marketers to know where you are can be convenient for deal-seekers and a boon to businesses and advertisers. It also makes perfect sense of why ad-driven Google is pursuing autonomous car technology.
[Source: Ford, Wired Autopia]
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