HearMeOut: HearMeOut enters the growing U.S. connected cars space through Ford

HearMeOut's (ASX:HMO) shares were trading 9% higher intra-day after its iOS and android apps were approved by Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) to be used in its cars in Ford's biggest market, the U.S. The Israeli-based company has built a voice-based social media platform that transforms the way people engage with and consume social media. HearMeOut's platform enables users to share and listen to 42-second audio posts through the platform's native feed or on other social networks, such as Twitter or Facebook. Through this app, people can express their authentic voice and put their unique signature on social media interactions. The connected car market represents a significant opportunity for HearMeOut with an estimated 250 million connected cars worldwide by 2020. Moreover, the connected car market is expected to grow to €113 billion by 2020 - enabling new in-vehicle services and automated driving capabilities. HearMeOut App recently joined the SmartDeviceLink (SDL) global platform, entering the industry's largest group of automakers looking to enhance the driving experience through unique connected apps. The SDL platform is overseen by a consortium established by Ford and Toyota, and includes car manufacturers and brands such as Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki, Peugeot and Citroen. Importantly, enabling HearMeOut to be used in Ford vehicles in the U.S. significantly expands the potential user base for HearMeOut in the connected car space.