Orbitcast is live from the Ford Keynote at CES 2009 where Ford Motor Co. today unveiled plans to upgrade its Ford SYNC system to include live traffic, turn-by-turn directions and information services to the vehicle by Spring 2009. It's a move that instantaneously threatens XM NavTraffic and Sirius Traffic services, especially since it comes from an OEM.
Ford will introduce a new version of its popular SYNC service to include GPS directions, live traffic data that will redirect you to a faster route, and location-based information services (such as business and restaurant searches).
And most importantly, it will be free for the first 3-years of ownership.
And most importantly, it will be free for the first 3-years of ownership.
Additionally, since the SYNC system uses your mobile phone's data service, Ford is developing systems that will auto-detect what data plan you have - and will adjust the services it delivers to you accordingly.
Ford is also developing a method to connect Ford SYNC to 3rd-party applications on your smartphone (such as the 300 million downloaded apps on the iPhone). Ford specifically highlighted the ability to access, control and listen to Pandora internet radio via the SYNC system.
The automaker expects the new SYNC system to be available in Spring of 2009, and they also announced that SYNC will be begin rolling out globally in 2010.
Ford is also developing a method to connect Ford SYNC to 3rd-party applications on your smartphone (such as the 300 million downloaded apps on the iPhone). Ford specifically highlighted the ability to access, control and listen to Pandora internet radio via the SYNC system.
The automaker expects the new SYNC system to be available in Spring of 2009, and they also announced that SYNC will be begin rolling out globally in 2010.
HA... Powered by Microsoft.... enough said...