Straightline - 2008 Consumer Electronics Show: Ford's Sync Calls for Help

2008 Consumer Electronics Show: Ford's Sync Calls for Help

The Microsoft/Ford Sync system just became a must have safety feature. Until now, Sync was a clever and useful point of connection for digital media players and Bluetooth enabled phones - mostly fun stuff. Now, they've taken the feature well beyond fun. Some of the details were part of a CES keynote speech featuring Microsoft's Bill Gates.

The first, and probably most important - Sync will dial 911 should your car be involved in an accident and the airbags deploy. Sound familiar? OnStar has emergency crash notification too but there's a difference. The Sync system makes a local 911 call through your phone, OnStar's call goes to a call center first, then they call your local emergency services. The Ford version requires no monthly fee and does not cost extra when you buy a Sync equipped car. In fact, Sync will soon be standard on all Lincoln vehicles.

Another significant improvement to Sync is a new Vehicle Health Report service. It collects data from your car, sends it to Ford through your phone, then a tech looks at it and sends you an email highlighting areas that need attention. Just like OnStar, right? Kinda, but again, the Ford/Sync service doesn't cost extra - it will be part of Sync and is included in the $395 purchase price. Ouch! Take that OnStar.

Current owners with Sync can get the system upgraded at their local dealership.

Why no extra cost or monthly fees? Derrick Kuzak, Ford Group Vice President in charge of Global Product Development said "Value is key to all Ford brands. It doesn't make sense to charge our customers extra for this kind of service."

Considering the price and expanded features, Sync is shaping up to be the tech bargain of the decade - Brian Moody, Road Test Editor

Posted by Brian Jan 6, 2008 7:30 pm

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Categories: Ford | Lincoln | Mercury | Car Tech

Comments

estreka - Jan 6, 2008 8:06 pm (#1 Total: 13)

subarctic north - Great Falls, MT

'Derrick Kuzak, Ford Group Vice President in charge of Global Product Development said "Value is key to all Ford brands. It doesn't make sense to charge our customers extra for this kind of service."'

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!! Somebody give that guy a promotion.

cah11705 - Jan 6, 2008 8:30 pm (#2 Total: 13)

Now if only Ford could figure out that value thing for the rest of the car

rsholland - Jan 6, 2008 9:08 pm (#3 Total: 13)

Ellicott City MD United States of America

Very impressive! Wonder what OnStar's retort will be?

stovt001 - Jan 6, 2008 10:38 pm (#4 Total: 13)

Wow. I am truly impressed. Ford really has stepped up the game a bit. Usually I'm not into all this vehicle tech stuff, but Sync sounds like a pretty good deal. Cah11705 is right. If they extend this type of value and quality to the rest of the product, Ford will be quite compelling again.

7driver - Jan 7, 2008 1:00 am (#5 Total: 13)

Kudos to Ford/Microsoft/Sync for getting it right. However, the real reason it's free is that billing would be very difficult and more overhead than its worth since there's a 3rd party involved in the communications chain (remember, it's using your phone which must have Bluetooth and be able to sync to Sync). A bit of marketing spin going on there, but it's still nice nonetheless.

briancam - Jan 7, 2008 1:41 am (#6 Total: 13)

UsA

OnStar sure found a way to charge a monthly fee.

opfreak - Jan 7, 2008 7:27 am (#7 Total: 13)

maybe onstar will become cheaper. who knows. Then again the rest of the ford car is still the pits

silver_00z24 - Jan 7, 2008 8:58 am (#8 Total: 13)

Now who is going to cover the costs of my cell phone bill for all that data usage?

Also what happens when your in a "Dead zone" and you crash? You know those areas where your cell phone regularly drops the call with your significant other. I'm pretty sure since this is a cellular based system no one will be getting the call in a case like that...

Up here in British Columbia, Canada, where once you get out of the cities you will find that there is more dead zone than active coverage, I'd much rather pay GM for a satellite based system then get a "free" service from Ford that will not cover me everywhere I go.

7driver - Jan 7, 2008 10:10 am (#9 Total: 13)

OnStar is basically a Verizon cell phone hidden in your mirror with a speed dial button programmed to call their service center. If your Verizon phone can't get a signal, likely neither can OnStar. The difference is that with OnStar GM pays Verizon while you will have to cover the data costs with Sync.

ateixeira - Jan 7, 2008 1:01 pm (#10 Total: 13)

Recife, PE, Brazil

I thought OnStar was satellite-based, unlike Verizon phones?

Sync sounds like a good idea, but I just hope it doesn't distract Ford from the primary business - cars and trucks!

estreka - Jan 7, 2008 1:47 pm (#11 Total: 13)

subarctic north - Great Falls, MT

Say no more. Ford just announced direct injection across their lineup.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/GreenCarAdvisor/159

Frankly, I'm shocked. I mean, we're talking about Ford here.

terry32579 - Feb 17, 2008 2:33 am (#12 Total: 13)

OnStar is satellite based and cell phone.

Communications to them via OnStar is by telephone. They can comunicate to you the same way. Having said that they can send commands to your vehicle via satellite. I know first hand. I had a GMC Yukon running with locked doors in a desert ~70 miles SE of Tonapaha, 0% cell coverage. A buddy on m8ine drove me 30 miles to a landline and called onstar, by the time I got back they had unlocked it. If I were in a wreck out there I doubt a satellite signal would be sent upwards.

wsniderokc - Apr 2, 2008 1:06 pm (#13 Total: 13)

what data charges? your phone sees it as no different than using a blue tooth headset. no, repeat NO extra charges for using SYNC with your ford or lincoln/mercury product.