Zune Thoughts: Ford Teams Up with Microsoft to Deliver In-Car Digital System

"Ford Motor Company today announced the launch of a new factory-installed, in-car communications and entertainment system that is designed to change the way consumers use digital media portable music players and mobile phones in their vehicles. The Ford-exclusive technology based on Microsoft Auto software, called Sync, provides consumers the convenience and flexibility to bring into their vehicle nearly any mobile phone or digital media player and operate it using voice commands or the vehicle’s steering wheel or radio controls. Ford owners will not need to worry about whether their car or truck is compatible with the latest phone or music player that hits the market. Sync seamlessly integrates the vehicle with the popular portable electronic devices of today and is upgradeable to support the devices and services of tomorrow."



After watching Bill Gates' CES keynote, we were a little overwhelmed by Microsoft and Ford's plans to deliver an in-car digital solution (dubbed, Ford Sync) for Zune, iPod, and mobile phones. USB 2.0, Bluetooth, voice recognition, text-to-speech, ringtone support, you name it - they didn't hesitate to highlight all of Sync's great features, but amusingly, there was no mention of how the cars it's implemented in perform (with that much digital bling, did they forget the motor?). I guess they left that for the auto show in Detroit. ;)