Nuance Powers Ford SYNC Expansion to Europe with New Global Languages

Ford’s Popular Voice-Enabled In-Car Infotainment System Powered by Nuance to Launch in 19 Languages Worldwide, Starting in Europe in 2012

Ford SYNC Goes Global Expanding to 19 Languages with Voice Command and Control Powered by Nuance (Graphic: Business Wire)

CeBIT 2011

HANOVER, Germany--()--Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN), today announced that the incredibly successful Ford SYNC system powered by Nuance voice technology will rollout globally, with its first debut in Europe in 2012 via the Ford Focus. Nuance’s voice technology already powers the speech recognition and text-to-speech capabilities of the Ford SYNC in the US, providing drivers with more than 10,000 possible voice commands for one-shot navigation entry, music, phone, climate control and more.

Nuance and Ford have worked closely together to develop the Ford SYNC system in 19 languages, including US, U.K. and Australian English, European and Canadian French, US and European Spanish, Brazilian and European Portuguese, German, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese Mandarin (supported by Mandarin Chinese). Leveraging Nuance’s expertise and language and dialect support, Ford SYNC will be able to recognize an incredibly broad array of accents and vocabularies, enabling Ford to bring its innovative in-car experience to more consumers around the world.

“It’s no question that Ford SYNC demonstrates true automotive innovation, and we’re very pleased to have partnered with them to deliver the SYNC experience to drivers in more regions around world,” said Arnd Weil, VP and General Manager Automotive Business at Nuance Communications. “Nuance has made significant investments to support the broad dialect coverage required in larger regions like Europe and Asia, providing drivers with highly-intuitive voice commands that give drivers a safer, smarter way to engage Ford’s compelling infotainment features.”

Ford first delivered SYNC powered by Nuance’s speech technology in 2007, and since its debut in North America, SYNC has been equipped in more than 3 million Ford vehicles – with more than 80 percent of SYNC consumers stating they’d recommend the system to others.

Availability

Ford SYNC will be available throughout Europe in 2012, beginning with the Ford Focus.

Nuance’s automotive solutions, which power the speech recognition and text-to-speech capabilities of more than 35 million automobiles and 35 million personal navigation devices from the world’s leading brands, provide a compelling integrated platform for today’s leading auto manufacturers – empowering them to deliver smarter, safer interfaces for engaging today’s embedded and connected in-car systems and content. To learn more, visit http://www.nuance.com/for-business/by-solution/automotive-products-and-solutions/index.htm

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordmotorcompany.com.

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 51 individual markets and employs approximately 66,000 employees. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford of Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities, including joint ventures. The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.

About Nuance Mobile

Nuance Mobile builds innovative, intelligent and intuitive touch and speech interfaces to simplify and enhance the way people interact with mobile devices, applications, and services. Nuance Mobile solutions make mobile devices and in-car systems easier to use, automate customer self-service, and optimize the access and discovery of even the most advanced mobile applications and content — regardless of technical know-how, location, environment, or physical and literacy capabilities.

About Nuance Communications, Inc.

Nuance is a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with information and how they create, share and use documents. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance’s proven applications and professional services. For more information, please visit: www.nuance.com.

Nuance and the Nuance logo are registered trademarks or brands of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States of America and other countries. All other companies or product names are the property of the respective owners.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6628355&lang=en

Contacts

EMEA
Nuance Communications International
Vanessa Richter
Tel: +32-9-239 80 31
vanessa.richter@nuance.com
or
U.S.
Nuance Communications
Rebecca Paquette, 781-565-5264
rebecca.paquette@nuance.com

Release Summary

Nuance today announced that the incredibly successful Ford SYNC system powered by Nuance voice technology will roll out globally, with its first debut in Europe in 2012 on the Ford Focus.

Contacts

EMEA
Nuance Communications International
Vanessa Richter
Tel: +32-9-239 80 31
vanessa.richter@nuance.com
or
U.S.
Nuance Communications
Rebecca Paquette, 781-565-5264
rebecca.paquette@nuance.com