| Original author(s) | Ford Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Ford Motor Company |
| Initial release | September 2007 |
| Stable release | 3.2 |
| Preview release | 5.0 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Windows Embedded Automotive |
| Available in | English, French, Spanish |
| Type | Telematics |
| License | Proprietary commercial software |
| Website | www.ford.com/technology/sync/ |
Ford SYNC is a factory-installed, integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system that allows users to make hands-free telephone calls and control music and other functions using voice commands.[1][2] The system consists of applications and user interfaces developed by Ford and third-party developers that run on the Microsoft Windows Embedded Automotive operating system.[3]
Ford first announced SYNC in January 2007 at the Detroit International Auto Show.[4] Ford first offered SYNC for sale in 2007 in twelve 2008 model year Ford group vehicles in North America.[5]
SYNC is currently offered in North America on 14 Ford vehicle models, 5 Lincoln vehicle models and on the Mercury Milan.[6]
Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced the partnership between Ford and Microsoft at the annual North American International Auto Show in January 2007.[4]
Ford SYNC allows drivers to operate in their vehicle Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and digital media players using voice commands, the vehicle's steering wheel, or radio controls.[7]
SYNC can 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 will not however, decipher obscene acronyms.
As a stand-alone option, the manufacturer's suggested retail price is US$395.[8]
Note that SYNC systems without a navigation system and LCD do not have all the features available.
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.
SYNC will wirelessly transfer the names and numbers in a mobile phone book automatically.
To make a call, all you have to do is push the "voice" button and say, Phone, then CALL and a name from your phone book. If there is more than one number you can say, "Call Joe Smith at Work" or "Call Joe Smith at Home"
If you have two numbers, you can also say, "Call Joe Smith" and the system will say, "Call Joe Smith at Work or Home?" and call the appropriate number based on your answer.
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.
SYNC will play personal ring tones assigned to identify specific callers.
SYNC can convert SMS messages to audio and read them out loud. This feature is carrier dependent. Currently Sprint does not support this feature. Verizon sells very few phones with this feature, but the feature is supported by the LG Cosmos, Windows Mobile 6.x and Motorola Droid X.
SYNC can connect to many popular digital music players via Bluetooth or USB connection. Users can browse through music collections by genre, album, artist, and song title using simple voice commands. With certain devices, SYNC is also capable of playing protected content (for example Zune Pass downloads), provided that usage rights on the device are current. Ford's website contains a list of media players on which protected content is supported.
Allows users to avoid programming or reading aloud of scripts for SYNC to recognize their voice.
SYNC is fluent in American English, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.[9]
The 911 Assist† application places a direct call to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of a serious accident with an air bag deployment. Before initiating the emergency 911 call, SYNC will provide a 10-second window to allow the driver or passenger to decide whether to cancel the call. If not manually cancelled within the 10-second window, SYNC will place the emergency call. A pre-recorded message will play when the call is answered, and occupants in the vehicle will then be able to communicate directly with the 911 operator.
AppLink† allows BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android based phones to run approved applications using the car's steering wheel buttons, radiohead, and/or voice commands. The first set of announced applications included Pandora, Stitcher (podcast aggregator), and OpenBeak (Twitter reader). AppLink will work only on Generation I SYNC (Model Year 2012 and later). Also the 2011 Fiesta offers this as a free upgrade from SyncMyRide.com.[10]
Traffic, Directions and Information is an application that provides the user with traffic alerts, turn-by-turn directions and information about topics such as weather, sports, news and 411 business search. Ford announced on May 27, 2009 that the Traffic, Directions and Information application would be free for three years to the original owner of 2010 model year SYNC equipped vehicles.
The information for traffic alerts and Turn-By-Turn Directions are provided by INRIX.
After setting their personal preferences online, users can access free car reports at any time using SYNC. This feature was released with SYNC version 2.0. All SYNC owners have access to upgrade to this version.
The Ford Work Solution is a collection of technologies debuted in April 2009. Ford Work Solutions is marketed towards professionals who buy the Ford F150, F-Series Super Duty, E-Series van and Transit Connect.[11] Magnetti Marelli developed the in-dash computer that enables and is unique to trucks equipped with Ford Work Solutions.[12] The applications included in the Ford Work Solution are Crew Chief, Garmin Nav, Mobile Office and Tool Link.[3]
The Crew Chief application provides real time vehicle location and maintenance tracking. Crew Chief can monitor numerous diagnostic functions including tire pressure, water in fuel, airbag faults and the check engine light. Users can also create alerts to monitor things like excessive idling, unauthorized vehicle usage or lack of seat belt usage.[11]
Ford developed Crew Chief with partner Telogis.[13]
The Garmin Nav application provides capabilities including destination routing and locating points of interest.[11]
The LogMeIn application allows the user to remotely access an office computer using a data connection provided by Sprint.[12] The user can open applications on the remote computer, make updates and print documents using a Ford-certified, Bluetooth enabled keyboard and printer.[11]
Tool Link is an application that enables a user to take physical inventory of objects present in the truck bed using radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. A user attaches RFID tags to an object, allowing the SYNC system to detect the object's presence or absence and noting the object's status on the in-dash computer display.[14]
Users can create "job lists" of objects to verify that tools needed for a certain job are present in the truck before heading to a job site. At the end of the job, the system can inventory items in the truck to ensure that no tools are left on the job site.[14]
Ford developed the Tool Link application with DeWalt and ThingMagic.[11][14]
†Feature only available on 2009.5 and later model years, or via a software update [15]
"SYNC" is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.[16] Normally Ford does not apply the brand of its suppliers to the parts or systems the suppliers manufacture for Ford. However, the vehicle interior badges for cars equipped with the SYNC system include both the SYNC and Microsoft brands.[4]
Ford had exclusive use of the Microsoft Auto embedded operating system that powered the early versions of SYNC until the exclusivity agreement expired in November 2008. The Ford developed user interface elements and Ford developed applications remain exclusive to Ford group vehicles and are not available to other manufacturers using Windows Embedded Automotive for the basis of their in-vehicle infotainment systems.[16]
SYNC v1 offered the ability to play certain entertainment media, the ability to connect to certain mobile phones and digital audio players and to utilize SMS.[3]
SYNC v2 enabled two new Ford developed applications: 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report.[3]
SYNC v3 enabled the Traffic, Directions and Information application.[3]
The latest version of SYNC released by Ford is v3.2.2.
The Ford Work Solutions is a collection of five applications marketed towards professionals who buy Ford trucks. The applications included in the Ford Work Solution are Crew Chief, Garmin Nav, LogMeIn and Tool Link.[3]
SYNC v4 enabled the Ford developed MyFord Touch application for certain 2011 model year vehicles.[3]
SYNC v5 enabled SYNC AppLink capabilities for certain 2011 model year vehicles.[3]
The SYNC computer, which Ford calls the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM), is housed separately from the head unit, which Ford calls the Audio Control Module (ACM), and interfaces with all vehicle audio sources as well as the high-speed and medium-speed vehicle CAN-buses.[17][18] The first generation of the Ford's SYNC computer was designed in cooperation with Continental AG[19] and is built around a 400 MHz Freescale i.MX31L processor with an ARM 11 CPU core, uses 256MB of 133 MHz Mobile DDR SDRAM from Micron and 2GB of Samsung NAND flash memory,[20][21] runs the Microsoft Auto operating system,[22] and uses speech technology by Nuance Communications. Utilizing the USB port, SYNC's Microsoft Windows Auto-based operating system can be updated to work with new personal electronic devices. A Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) BlueCore4 chip provides Bluetooth connectivity with compatible phones and devices. SYNC's major chips cost US$27.80 which allows Ford to profitably sell the system at a much lower price than competitive offerings.[20]
Popular Mechanics ranked SYNC number four on its list of the "Top 10 Most Brilliant Gadgets of 2007".[8]
Popular Science magazine awarded SYNC a "Best of What's New Award" for 2008 in November 2007.[23]
The following vehicles are SYNC capable, available as either an optional or standard feature. The date next to each vehicle indicates in which model year SYNC was first available on that specific vehicle. *Note: On some models, SYNC is not available on certain trim levels.
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