Ford Delivers 4 Millionth Sync In-Car Connectivity System; Touts NPR App
LAS VEGAS -- Ford Sync, the voice-activated in-car connectivity system introduced in 2007, now is installed in more than 4 million Ford Motor Co. vehicles.
With plans to begin offering Sync in Europe and Asia this year, Ford projects 9 million additional vehicles will be equipped with SYNC by 2015.
Powered by the Microsoft Windows Embedded Automotive platform, Sync has created the "upgradeable car," allowing new features and improvements to be seamlessly integrated on a pace with consumer trends and preferences.
"Sync has been a transformational technology not only for Ford, but for the industry," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president for Global Product Development. "Sync has been integral to keeping pace with the consumer, delivering value through a constant flow of new features that keep them connected to their digital lives in a safer, simpler and smarter way while driving."
Sync has evolved quickly since first introduced in late 2007 and grown to provide customers even more value, with no additional cost.
Soon after launch, Ford added Sync 911 Assist, which connects drivers directly with 911 operators after an accident. It is the only in-car, non-subscription call-for-help system.
Ford's Sync Services launched in 2009, providing voice-activated access to a cloud-based network of information including traffic, news, sports, weather, horoscopes, stock quotes and movie listings along with business searches and turn-by-turn directions.
In 2010 Ford added Sync AppLink -- allowing smartphone-equipped customers access to a growing number of popular apps using voice control such as Pandora internet radio and Stitcher.
Operator Assist, introduced in 2011 and available through Sync Services, gives users access to live help with business searches and turn-by-turn directions.
Ford's open platform approach to mobile device connectivity has helped Sync stand out in the industry, allowing for continuous improvement of the user experience and the addition of new features.
"Listening to customers and monitoring consumer trends has helped make Sync a 'must-have' technology," said Kuzak. "We will continuously improve Sync based on customer feedback with the availability of software updates and upgrades."
Ford internal research has found that customers who bought 2011 models of Ford vehicles treat Sync as a must-have technology and purchase the system 82 percent of the time. Also, more than 80 percent of Sync users said they are likely to recommend the system to others.
Responding to customer clinics, Ford is also planning a major upgrade to its MyFord Touch system that will roll out in a few months as 2013 model year vehicles are introduced.
The upgrade will appear first on the all-new Ford Escape, and 2013 Flex and Taurus models. Current owners of 2011-12 models of Ford Explorer, Edge, Lincoln MKX and the 2012 Ford Focus will be mailed a USB memory stick equipped with the software upgrade at no charge.
In addition to faster touch-screen response time, the software upgrade will include improved voice recognition, tablet device compatibility, Audible.com audiobook support, connected navigation featuring new map data, improved phone capability and Gracenote album cover art for music.
Ford also announced that it had teamed up with National Public Radio to adapt the NPR News app for Sync AppLink. Over the past two years, NPR has doubled its digital audience to 19 million users, developing free apps for tablets, smartphones and desktops that both current and new audiences are embracing.
The NPR News app integration with Sync AppLink brings the features of NPR's mobile application on iPhone and Android into the car with features that include NPR's newscast, local news from across the nation on hundreds of NPR stations, programming of car radio presets, searching stories by topic, creating a playlist and more.
