The Ford Motor Co.’s SmartDeviceLink has seen a spike in its adoption rates with the announcement that Toyota Motor Corp. will be placing the technology into its cars in the near future. The news comes seven months after Toyota announced that it was exploring the possible implementation of SmartDeviceLink technology into its future Toyota and Lexus cars.

Automotive suppliers QNX Software Systems Ltd. and UIEvolution Inc. will also adopt the SmartDeviceLink technology, with plans to integrate it into its products.

Other car manufacturers who Ford announced are considering adopting the technology, include PSA Peugeot Citroën, Honda, Subaru and Mazda.

What is SmartDeviceLink?

SmartDeviceLink is the open-source software version of Ford’s own AppLink platform, which is now part of the SYNC 3 infotainment platform. SmartDeviceLink allows drivers to control various smartphone apps using dashboard buttons, displays or voice recognition commands.

As the technology is open-source, any developer has the opportunity to build or adapt apps to be compatible with SmartDeviceLink.

“The true benefit of a common smartphone app communications interface is that it creates an industry standard – enabling great experiences for customers while allowing different companies the freedom to differentiate their individual brands,” said Don Butler, Ford executive director, Connected Vehicle and Services. “Ford is making the software available as open-source, because customers throughout the industry benefit if everybody speaks one language.”

Various apps already make use of Ford’s AppLink, including Spotify, iHeartRadio, AccuWeather, MLB and Dominos, among others. AppLink is already available on five million Ford cars across the world. With the introduction of these new partners, as well as possibly adding the other four interested car manufacturers, Ford expects the technology to reach 28 million more cars by 2020.

Similar to CarPlay and Android Auto

SmartDeviceLink is very similar to Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto but in the case of SmartDeviceLink the car manufacturer retains control over the user interface’s look and feel. However, this has not stopped Ford from announcing on Monday that CarPlay and Android Auto would come installed on all 2017 Ford models, starting with the Ford Escape.

Ford will introduce AppLink 3.0, based on SmartDeviceLink software, later this year, which will allow drivers to access their favorite compatible navigation app on their car’s touch screen.

Learn more about Ford’s SmartDeviceLink in the video below:

Image credit: Simon Cohen; Flickr