Ford SYNC is an “in-vehicle infotainment” system available on newer Ford vehicles that provides drivers with touchscreen input and voice-activated controls for hands-free operation of the car’s media components as well as mobile smartphones via Bluetooth technology or a USB cable.
Features in Ford SYNC include support for receiving SMS text messages and audibly reading the messages to the driver, a map-based navigation system with traffic alerts, full compatibility with USB-connected MP3 players and smartphones, support for running smartphone apps via SYNC AppLink, vehicle health reports and more.
The more advanced SYNC with MyTouch Ford (and MyTouch Lincoln) system adds full Wi-Fi capabilities with hotspot connectivity, an eight-inch color touch screen and enhanced voice-activated support, with the ability to recognize over 10,000 voice commands.
SYNC and MyTouch Ford compete in the nascent in-vehicle infotainment category with the likes of Toyota s Entune, Kia Motors’ UVO, Cadillac’s CUE and Fiat’s Blue&Me offerings. SYNC and MyTouch Ford are powered by Intel s Atom processor and Microsoft s Windows Embedded Automotive 7 platform.
