<p>The system, called AppLink, allows applications on iPhones and BlackBerries to be voice-controlled, reports dailymail.co.uk.<br /><br />It reads 'tweet' updates out loud while the car is on the move - but does not allow the driver to respond.<br /><br />This is all controlled by Ford's SYNC system - a hands-free technology that is also capable of reading out text messages and uses voice recognition to select specific songs from an MP3 player.<br /><br />It was created after a study, from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, in America, revealed the dangers of driver inattention.<br /><br />Research suggested that being distracted for a matter of seconds is a factor in a staggering 80 percent of accidents.<br /><br />Ford says its SYNC technology offers significant safety benefits by allowing the driver to focus more on the road.<br /><br />"It's only through continuous improvement that Ford will maintain its lead in voice-activated vehicle controls. Making SYNC even more intuitive and easier to use will encourage more drivers to take advantage of its hands-free capabilities, helping them keep their focus on driving," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. <br /><br />The system is expected to appear in the Focus model in Britain next year before being installed across the range.</p>
<p>The system, called AppLink, allows applications on iPhones and BlackBerries to be voice-controlled, reports dailymail.co.uk.<br /><br />It reads 'tweet' updates out loud while the car is on the move - but does not allow the driver to respond.<br /><br />This is all controlled by Ford's SYNC system - a hands-free technology that is also capable of reading out text messages and uses voice recognition to select specific songs from an MP3 player.<br /><br />It was created after a study, from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, in America, revealed the dangers of driver inattention.<br /><br />Research suggested that being distracted for a matter of seconds is a factor in a staggering 80 percent of accidents.<br /><br />Ford says its SYNC technology offers significant safety benefits by allowing the driver to focus more on the road.<br /><br />"It's only through continuous improvement that Ford will maintain its lead in voice-activated vehicle controls. Making SYNC even more intuitive and easier to use will encourage more drivers to take advantage of its hands-free capabilities, helping them keep their focus on driving," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. <br /><br />The system is expected to appear in the Focus model in Britain next year before being installed across the range.</p>