Ford just announced a new capability for the SYNC 911 Assist application – the communication of a vehicle’s exact location using GPS coordinates provided to emergency responders which could help them reach the scene of an accident faster.
Availability
911 Assist with GPS will be available on most SYNC-equipped 2011 vehicles, including the Ford Taurus, Focus, Flex, Fusion, Escape and F-150; as well as the Lincoln MKS, MKZ and MKT.
Vehicles featuring the new MyFord or MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology will also have the updated 911 Assist GPS capabilities, and offer customers a number of other emergency service options. A priority emergency screen, for example, will contain location information and quick-touch access to In Case of Emergency (ICE) contacts at the completion of a 911 Assist call.
A No Fee Service
Available with certain 2011 model year vehicles, the GPS coordinates are generated by the vehicle’s onboard GPS receiver for maximum accuracy. Unlike competitive offerings that require customers to subscribe and pay a monthly fee for such accident assistance, Ford 911 Assist remains a nonsubscription-based, no-cost feature of the SYNC system that uses a customer’s existing mobile phone. The fee-free service is available in both the U.S. and Canada.
No Middle Man
The call is fast, direct, and doesn’t involve a separate call center or intermediary. All the owner needs to do is pair their phone to the SYNC and turn on the 911 Assist. In the event of an accident involving the activation of an airbag or emergency fuel pump shutoff, Synce 911 Assist will make a call directly to local emergency operator. The Operator can then retrieve the GPS location of the Ford car, truck or van.
It’s a Wireless World
The 911 Assist with GPS update comes as telecoms in both the U.S. and Canada continue to improve their respective capabilities, allowing emergency operators to receive not only a caller’s wireless phone number, but the caller’s location information as well. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an estimated 240 million calls are made to 911 in the U.S. each year. One third of those are wireless calls; in many communities, that number is one half or more.
Availability
911 Assist with GPS will be available on most SYNC-equipped 2011 vehicles, including the Ford Taurus, Focus, Flex, Fusion, Escape and F-150; as well as the Lincoln MKS, MKZ and MKT.
Vehicles featuring the new MyFord or MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology will also have the updated 911 Assist GPS capabilities, and offer customers a number of other emergency service options. A priority emergency screen, for example, will contain location information and quick-touch access to In Case of Emergency (ICE) contacts at the completion of a 911 Assist call.
