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November 28, 2012

American Auto Maker Ford Makes SYNC Better Just in Time for the Holidays

By Jamie Epstein
TMCnet Web Editor

Ford has come quite a long way from its first mass produced car known as the Model T, which made its official debut on October 1, 1908. The company’s current portfolio includes the Focus which gets up to a pretty impressive 40 miles per gallon on the highway, a variety of hybrid vehicles and of course the ever popular Mustang and Explorer. Whether you feel the need for speed or just want to help the environment, the car maker has a four wheeled beauty for pretty much anyone and powers its in-car next generation technology in all of them which includes voice recognition and voice command capabilities as well as step by step navigation.

 When rival Chevrolet revealed it would soon be allowing Apple (News - Alert) Siri users to combine that functionality wits is voice-activated virtual assistant in its cars next year, the announcement prompted Ford to just today unveil some new features to be included within the Microsoft (News - Alert)-powered voice-activated telematics platform.

According to the Daily News, some of these improvements include a much more advanced voice recognition system that enables users to leverage various services and features though natural commands like "play the Beatles" when desiring some music. Also, reports are revealing the navigation platform will be much simpler and Bluetooth connectivity won’t have as many problems which can quickly infuriate drivers who want to obey the law by using their smartphone with Ford's system in a hands free manner. A 6.5-inch LCD touchscreen display will be officially launched within the 2014 Ford Fiesta as well.


Image via Ford

The SYNC system recently celebrated its fifth year on the market and is touted as being among the very first telematics services made available to drivers, giving them access to anything on the Internet, letting them quickly check important e-mails and make vital calls and receive rapid assistance in case of an emergency.

While it has yet to be seen how much better these new functions are than their earlier versions, an increasingly popular trend is the growing demand for in-car telematics and infotainment.

"We are seeing strong brand lift from MyFord Touch amongst in-market shoppers, with 65 percent of those intending to purchase a vehicle reporting SYNC definitely plays a role in their purchase consideration. Take rates for MyFord Touch on new vehicle orders, such as the 2013 Escape and Fusion, continue to outpace our internal projections. We expect the same trend for Fiesta," company officials revealed.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO Miami 2013, Jan 29- Feb. 1 in Miami, Florida.  Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.

Edited by Amanda Ciccatelli