Beginning this summer, current Ford and Lincoln customers will be able to add a host of technology features, including in-car 4G LTE Wi-Fi, to their 2010?2016 car or truck courtesy of a new system called SmartLink. The retroactive upgrade will be sold at Ford and Lincoln dealerships and can be plugged in to the OBD II port of eligible vehicles. 
Ford?s announcement of SmartLink follows closely on the heels of the company?s news that a handful of 2018 model Fords equipped with Sync 3 will offer an in-car Wi-Fi network, a feature that General Motors has provided in a number of its cars since 2015. As at GM, the 2018 Fords equipped with Wi-Fi will rely on AT&T?s 4G LTE network to support up to 10 devices on the vehicle?s Wi-Fi network. SmartLink, though, will connect users to the internet via Verizon’s 4G LTE network and will support up to eight devices. While the ability to add Wi-Fi to earlier-model Fords and Lincolns will surely be SmartLink?s most talked-about asset, the tool also integrates with a dedicated smartphone app that allows users to lock, unlock, and start their car or truck remotely. Additional features within the SmartLink mobile app include vehicle maintenance and security alerts and a vehicle location tool. The cost" Ford is not ready to talk pricing for the SmartLink hardware or Verizon?s data services.

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