Ford_News
09-26-2013, 07:13 PM
Filed under: Technology (http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/), Ford (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/)
http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/adam/8d02d7bd2b82f808ba532602e940e46f/Livio_Ford.jpg (http://www.mnfords.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/#continued)
Ford Motor Company (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/) has announced the acquisition of Livio (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/livio/), a Ferndale, MI-based software development company best known for aftermarket in-car connectivity devices, but also as a supplier of technology for proprietary systems for automakers. Livio, co-founded by Sigal and Massimo Baldini, will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Global Technologies.
"With the additional expertise Livio provides us, Ford intends to continue to lead the next generation of in-car connectivity with technology advancements that give consumers more options to access their devices on the go," said Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation, in a statement.
Ford is clearly trying to beef up its in-house tech capability around telematics and device connectivity. While the Blue Oval has been a leader in these areas with SYNC and MyFord Touch in terms of getting the systems into as many cars as possible, the execution of the applications have been criticized for glitches.
As AOL Autos reported last November (http://autos.aol.com/article/myford-touch-Ford-Lincoln-Consumer-Reports/), Consumer Reports announced the automaker had plunged in its annual reliability survey. Ford ranked 27th out of 28 car brands surveyed. It wasn't faulty engines or problematic drivetrains that sunk Ford's reputation, but rather problems with MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch, the touchscreen multimedia systems that keep drivers connected on the road.
Ford paid $10 million for Livio, which occupies a building hardly more than a store-front in the suburb of Ferndale, about sixteen miles from Ford's Dearborn headquarters. Ford is looking to Livio help it develop an industry standard for connectivity between smartphones and the dashboard of its vehicles. "At Livio, our philosophy is centered on bringing customers more connectivity with less hassle," said Livio CEO Jake Sigal in a press release. Have a look below (http://www.mnfords.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/#continued) for Ford's official announcement.Continue reading Ford acquires Livio to bolster connectivity biz (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/)
Ford acquires Livio to bolster connectivity biz (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Thu, 26 Sep 2013 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.mnfords.com/rss-term-of-use/).
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http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/adam/8d02d7bd2b82f808ba532602e940e46f/Livio_Ford.jpg (http://www.mnfords.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/#continued)
Ford Motor Company (http://www.autoblog.com/ford/) has announced the acquisition of Livio (http://www.autoblog.com/tag/livio/), a Ferndale, MI-based software development company best known for aftermarket in-car connectivity devices, but also as a supplier of technology for proprietary systems for automakers. Livio, co-founded by Sigal and Massimo Baldini, will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Global Technologies.
"With the additional expertise Livio provides us, Ford intends to continue to lead the next generation of in-car connectivity with technology advancements that give consumers more options to access their devices on the go," said Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation, in a statement.
Ford is clearly trying to beef up its in-house tech capability around telematics and device connectivity. While the Blue Oval has been a leader in these areas with SYNC and MyFord Touch in terms of getting the systems into as many cars as possible, the execution of the applications have been criticized for glitches.
As AOL Autos reported last November (http://autos.aol.com/article/myford-touch-Ford-Lincoln-Consumer-Reports/), Consumer Reports announced the automaker had plunged in its annual reliability survey. Ford ranked 27th out of 28 car brands surveyed. It wasn't faulty engines or problematic drivetrains that sunk Ford's reputation, but rather problems with MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch, the touchscreen multimedia systems that keep drivers connected on the road.
Ford paid $10 million for Livio, which occupies a building hardly more than a store-front in the suburb of Ferndale, about sixteen miles from Ford's Dearborn headquarters. Ford is looking to Livio help it develop an industry standard for connectivity between smartphones and the dashboard of its vehicles. "At Livio, our philosophy is centered on bringing customers more connectivity with less hassle," said Livio CEO Jake Sigal in a press release. Have a look below (http://www.mnfords.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/#continued) for Ford's official announcement.Continue reading Ford acquires Livio to bolster connectivity biz (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/)
Ford acquires Livio to bolster connectivity biz (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Thu, 26 Sep 2013 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.mnfords.com/rss-term-of-use/).
Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20731078/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/26/ford-livio-acquisition/)