The president of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division, Robbie Bach, announced today that the company and Ford are updating SYNC. SYNC was announced at last year’s Consumer Electronics Show and is touted as a mobile entertainment and communication platform for your mobile devices and digital audio players. Later this year, the companies are adding real-time traffic and location information into the mix as well. In addition, users’ customizations will now stay with them when they move from SYNC car to car. Apparently the new real-time services will be free for the first 3 years, but are going to cost you beyond that time frame. No word yet on what those subscription fees will be like.
The updated SYNC features will launch later this year on “select 2010 models” of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles, and will hit all of their autos by 2011.
· SYNC with Traffic, Directions and Information provides personalized, real-time information to help drivers get to where they’re going with information they need. New services come with no monthly subscription fees for the first three years.
· Users’ customizations stay with their phone and can be used in other SYNC-equipped vehicles and can be upgraded free as new services are available.
· New features launch later this year on select 2010 models and will roll out across the entire Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury lineup by 2011.
· SYNC sales expected to top 1 million in 2009.
It's good to see features such as GPS and real-time traffic and weather being included in cars. My question is will the quality of options and features match those provided by many GPS manufacturers like Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom?
I think its fantastic to see GPS/real-time traffic in Fords. I don't really see the purpose of the weather capabilities though… Maybe Ford is trying to get back on the horse after the auto industry going to the crapper…