Ford Sync

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Not to be confused with Microsoft Sync Framework, the data synchronization platform from Microsoft.

Ford SYNC is a factory-installed, in-car communications and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft. The system will be offered on 12 different Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in North America for the 2008 model year.

1 Overview
2 Vehicles offering Sync
3 Features
4 System
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Overview

Ford SYNC allows drivers to bring nearly any mobile phone or digital media player into their vehicle and operate them using voice commands, the vehicle’s steering wheel, or radio controls.

The technology was announced by Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally at the annual North American International Auto Show in January 2007. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates made an appearance via live satellite.

Ford SYNC allows various portable digital music players (i.e., the iPod and Zune) and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones to be operated with simple voice commands. SYNC can even receive text messages and read them aloud using a digitized female voice “Samantha.” SYNC can interpret a hundred or so shorthand messages such as LOL for “laughing out loud” and will read swear words; it won’t however, decipher obscene acronyms.^{[citation needed]}

It is priced as a $395 option.

Ranked #4 on Popular Mechanics - The Top 10 Most Brilliant Gadgets of 2007. ^[1] Recognized by Popular Science magazine with a "Best of What's New Award" for 2008 in November 2007. ^[2]

[edit] Vehicles offering Sync

The following vehicles will be offered for the 2008 Model Year with SYNC as either an optional or standard feature:

[edit] Features

Vehicle Health Reports: After setting their personal preferences online, users can access free car reports at any time using SYNC. This feature is not yet available, and will be released with SYNC version 2.0. All current SYNC owners will have access to upgrade to this version, for free, when it becomes available. ^[3]
Voice-activated, hands-free calling: Using the “Push to Talk” button on the steering wheel allows the user to access anyone on their mobile phone’s contact list by voice command.
Uninterrupted connections: Pushing the “Telephone” button on the steering wheel will automatically transfer a current telephone call to the SYNC system without having to hang up and call again.
Audible text messages: SYNC can convert text messages to audio and will read them out loud.
Advanced calling features: SYNC displays the same features as the mobile phone used, such as caller ID, call waiting, conference calling, a caller log, a list of contacts, a signal strength icon, and a phone battery charge icon.
Voice-activated music: SYNC allows you to browse through music collections by genre, album, artist, and song title using simple voice commands.
Instant voice recognition: Allows users to avoid any complicated programming or reading aloud of prewritten scripts for SYNC to recognize their voice.
Ring tone support: SYNC will play personal ring tones assigned to identify specific callers.
Automatic phonebook transfer: SYNC will wirelessly transfer the names and numbers in a mobile phonebook automatically.
Multilingual intelligence: SYNC is fluent in English, Canadian French, and Spanish. ^[4]

[edit] System

The system is based on an ARM 11 processor, uses 256MB of DRAM and 2GB of flash memory, runs Microsoft Windows Mobile for Automotive operating system ^[5] and speech technology by Nuance Communications. Utilizing the USB port, SYNC's Windows-based operating system can be updated to work with new personal electronic devices, which consumers tend to swap out more frequently than their vehicles.

Its monetary cost to Ford seems to have been low $395 for the time whereas other manufacturers charged in the $1000 or more range, although all of the unassembled components listed above cost $30 to Ford, claims iSuppli in its investigation.^[6].