Ford Wants to Sync Your Ride

Ford wants to entice the "millennias"—the 30 and under crowd, born with digital music and text messaging in their DNA—into the Ford family. Collaborating with Microsoft, Ford is introducing its Sync system on the $14,695 2008 Ford Focus offering voice-activated communication and entertainment that allows tech savvy young buyers to keep their eyes on the road while they shuffle through iPod tunes or text message their pals. The bottom up introduction of the system reflects the biggest user pool—young, first time owners who are tech savvy and tech driven.

Hands-Free Connectivity
Sync is a Ford-exclusive technology based on Microsoft Auto software. It allows owners to use voice commands—picked up by a microphone embedded in the rear view mirror—to make phone calls, answer incoming calls, select albums, specific artists or genres of music. The voice system is fluent in English, French and Spanish. And there is no need to teach it your particular accent. Sync debuts for $395 on the Ford Focus, and by the end of the year will be available on Ford Fusion, Five Hundred, Edge, Freestyle, Explorer and Sport Trac; Mercury Milan, Montego and Mountaineer; and Lincoln MDX and MKZ. The technology will be on all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the near future.


After "pairing" a Bluetooth phone to the system and plugging a music player into a standard USB port, Sync allows drivers to push a rocker button on the steering wheel to access either the phone or the music player in the car. While digital players are plugged into the system they are also charging. A thumb or USB Memory stick can also be plugged into the system. Sync includes the same features offered on mobile phones, including caller ID, call waiting, conference calling, a caller log, a list of contacts, a signal strength icon, and a phone battery charge icon—all conveniently located on the radio's display screen.


Once the phone is paired to the system, the names and numbers in the phone book are automatically synchronized. To place a call to anyone in the phone book, simply say "call," followed by the name of the person. Sync will place the call. To call numbers not in the phone book, simply say, "dial," followed by the number and Sync will place the call. Up to 12 different phones can be synchronized in one Focus.


When a text message is received, an audible tone sounds and "new text message" appears in the radio display on the dashboard. Press OK on the steering wheel and Sync will display the phone number or name of the sender. Press the media button and say "read message" and Samatha—the name Ford engineers gave to the voice interface—will read the text message. Text messages can't be returned orally. Drivers can scroll though 15 predefined messages. For example: Where R you? Call me. Yes. No. Select their response and send it.