Software update allows Ford Sync users to use Siri Eyes-Free, adds feature to over five million vehicles

It’s pretty cool what a firmware update can do.

Owners of the Ford Sync can now download an update that will allow the Sync to tap into Siri to perform a variety of tasks while keeping their eyes on the road.

Ford on Thursday announced the Siri Eyes-Free update, noting that the software is available for more than 5 million Sync-equipped vehicles dating back to 2011. Siri Eyes-Free will allow the iPhone to work with the Ford Sync software to help drivers make and receive phone calls, listen to music, get driving directions and check calendar appointments via voice commands.

The Ford Sync has gone through three versions since its inception in 2007. Introduced this past summer, the third version already includes Siri Eyes-Free, which incorporates the voice-activated Siri digital assistant found in Apple’s iPhones. Thursday’s update is geared toward the second version of Sync, known in North America as MyFord Touch, which was introduced with Ford’s 2011 lineup. The Sync system is currently installed in more than 12 million vehicles, according to Ford.

While Sir Eyes-Free is seen as a significant step in the right direction, a large number of users seem to be waiting for Ford to incorporate Apple’s CarPlay into additional models. CarPlay, which has been seen in some models, functions as a more advanced, higher-end system that offers touch-screen controls, onscreen maps and a built-in media center. A Ford spokesman confirmed that the automaker plans to support both CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto with Sync version 3 but could not give a specific time frame for availability.

Users can download the update from the Ford owners website, install it on a USB drive and then plug it into the USB port in their cars. The Sync touch screen then walks the user through the installation, which takes around 20 minutes.

If you’ve tried the Siri Eyes-Free update for the Ford Sync and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.

Via CNET