Jaguar Land Rover introduced a new smartphone app Tuesday called JustDrive that aims to make drives safer and more connected to the web.
The app will work with the British automaker's InControl infotainment system that is set to become available for all cars due for release in 2015, according to Engadget. The system is currently only available in the 2015 Jaguar F-TYPE and Land Rover.
With JustDrive, drivers will be able to access InControl apps, which include Twitter, Spotify and Yelp, hands-free, and it can also be used for calls, texts or sending a user's location on a map to any of their contacts.
Drivers will be presented with a welcome screen that shows information like weather conditions, commute information and the news once JustDrive is activated, CNET reported. The three major functions of the app appear in texts on the left half of the screen, while navigation and map data is shown on the right half. Bluetooth and USB connection is required for voice control to work.
The voice control program lets drivers tell the app what songs to play in the phone's storage. The app can also assist users with turn-by-turn directions for any location.
Peter Virk, head of connected technology and apps at Jaguar Land Rover, said it was important for the company to give drivers these hands-free capabilities, emphasizing the importance of safety, Fortune reported.
"We want our customers to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the steering wheel," Virk said.
JustDrive will be available in early 2015 for drivers who own a 2015 model Jaguar and Land Rover vehicle, according to CNET. Both iOS and Android users will be able to download JustDrive for free.
