Voice operated apps for use in cars will be the next huge growth area for business software development according to Mark Mason, CEO of Mubaloo, which claims to be the UK’s largest smartphone app developer.

“Smartphone apps are making business more mobile and less office bound all the time,” says Mason. “Ford has just released its software development kit, and Mubaloo apps will be compatible with their SYNC voice command system. The other motor manufacturers are bound to be following suit soon.”

An IBM survey of 2,000 software design professionals in 87 counties revealed earlier this week that they expected the design of business apps to outstrip all other forms of business software development in the next five years.

“More and more drivers will find a way to use their devices and their apps while in the car,” says Derrick Kuzak, Ford Motor Company’s group vice president of global product development. “They can do it unsafely, or they can do it through safer voice-activated solutions such as Ford SYNC – keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.”

Ford says it has received more than 1,000 submissions from developers to either modify their existing apps, or create all-new ones that interface with Ford SYNC’s voice commands through AppLink.

AppLink will be available in the 2011 Fiesta and will be compatible with Android and BlackBerry phones. iPhone compatibility is expected to be added to the system later in the year.

Mubaloo’s app output includes a fuel-price finder for The AA; an AXAdent claims app for AXA insurance; and an Augmented Reality (AR) app for the Carphone Warehouse. Mubaloo’s 2010 World Cup Tracker app achieved over 2.4m downloads in just eight weeks.