Ford teams with AT&T on Focus Electric mobile app
updated 02:25 pm EDT, Thu March 24, 2011
AT&T to power Ford Focus wireless connection
Ford this week announced it has teamed up with AT&T for the wireless service for its Ford Focus Electric. Through a secure Ford website, an HTML5- or WAP 2.0-capable mobile web browser or app for Android, BlackBerry and iOS devices called MyFord Mobile, owners will be able to view and control vehicle settings. AT&T will transmit the data from the vehicle to a cloud service, which will then be accessible by the user.
Some of the things users will have control over include preconditioning the car's interior while it's still plugged in to maximize range, checking battery status, planning driving routes and locating charging stations.
Users will also be able to schedule charge times for when prices are the least expensive, of off-peak. Finding a parked car will also be easier, as the app will direct users to it. Alerts will also be sent to users when a charge is interrupted or a certain charge level is reached and is sufficient enough to reach a certain destination.
The Focus Electric has an embedded wireless module.
