Send Addresses to Your Car's Nav System from Google Maps

Forget the inconvenience of programming a car navigation system step-by-step at the last minute. A growing number of automakers are working with Google Maps to offer a “send to car” feature that forwards destination information to a specific vehicle instantaneously––allowing you to call it up whenever you’re ready to go.

How it Works

Users begin at the mapping site, where they find a destination and then choose to send it to a car, opening a pull-down menu that lists participating automakers. When your automaker is selected, an input box will open, asking for your account number, phone number or OnStar User Name. OnStar subscribers will also be prompted to name the address, such as Cousin Amy's House. Click "send" and the next time you use your car's nav system or OnStar it will be in your address book.

How to Get It

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury
Ford plans this month to debut Send to SYNC, a free add-on to the automaker’s existing Traffic, Directions and Information (TDI) application for SYNC-equipped 2010 and 2011 model year Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles that also have a built-in GPS unit. (Equipped vehicles were built beginning mid-2009.)

You input your cell phone number on Google Maps and in the car SYNC TDI uses your cellphone to dial into the Ford network and download the destination to the navigation system. If the vehicle doesn't have a built-in navigation system, the destination will be offered through a version of the TDI app that also downloads spoken directions to SYNC, which plays them through the car audio system. Only a voice plan is required for the cellphone connection; no data plan is needed to complete the downloads.

The SYNC system is standard only on Ford’s highest trim-level cars and all Lincoln models; it is a $395 option for mid-trim-level Ford vehicles and not available at all in base-trim-level Fords.

Initially, Send to SYNC will be available through Google Maps. Later this year it will also be offered through Mapquest.

BMW
BWM calls its system MyInfo via Google Maps and it's available on the 2008 X6 and 2009 and later for all other models. Owners must also have an active BMW Assist account, which is free for the first four years as part of BMW Ultimate Service. On Google Maps you input the email address on file as the account name. When you get into your car, you go to the MyInfo or Message section on the BMW Assist menu and you'll see the address you sent.

Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz calls its Google Maps send-to-car ability Search & Send. It requires the automaker’s new mbrace telematics service, which launched earlier this year and costs $280 per year after an initial six-month free trial period.

The mbrace service also requires compatible hardware found only in certain vehicles: Model-year 2007 or later S-Class and CL-Class cars, model-year 2008 and later C-Class cars, and nearly all model-year 2009 and later Mercedes-built vehicles. (Exceptions are the ultra-high-luxury Maybach models plus CLK-Class and SLR-Class cars.)

On Google Maps you input your mbrace email address. When you get in your car, you press the mbrace "i" button to dowload the address to the nav system. If you sent multiple addresses, you'll have to press the "i" button for each address. You'll then see all of the addresses.

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn
All of these brands are tied to a new service named OnStar eNav, which launched in late June and is provided by GM's wholly-owned subsidiary OnStar. But to get OnStar’s send-to-car feature, the vehicle must have been built within the last couple of years (see OnStar's List). In addition, a subscription to OnStar’s Directions & Connections service package is required, at a cost of $29 per month or $299 per year.

On Google Maps you input your OnStar user name and a nametag for your destination. When you get into your car, you press the Phone button and say "Virtual Advisor." Then follow the prompts to download the address to your nav system.

In addition, OnStar has been offering an identical feature through Mapquest for several years.

Audi
Audi is planning to offer destination send-to-car from Google Maps with the navigation system in the forthcoming 2011 A8 sedan, which arrives at dealerships this fall.

What's Next 

Looking further out in time, says Thilo Koslowski, vice president and lead automotive analyst at market research firm Gartner in San José, Calif., other mapping and address search websites can be expected to join Google Maps and Mapquest in offering this type of destination send-to-car option, and other more interesting telematics services will emerge as complements, as well. He cites, for example, a new OnStar iPhone app for the forthcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt that will enable a destination search and send-to-car from the phone.

“Ultimately,” Koslowski declares, “think of the car being your next mobile device––as connected as your cellphone and your laptop has been in the past.”

Phones and Mobile, GPS Navigation, Travel & Entertainment, Car Tech & Safety