Ford plans to sell its Sync mobile phone and digital music player voice control system more widely starting with Europe in 2010.
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The Sync wireless system has been a hit, especially with younger buyers of the Focus line, in North America.
The system, developed with Microsoft, can be upgraded by the user. Ford said at a technology show it has a new agreement with electronics retailer Best Buy to provide technical support, Reuters reported.
Sync would be enhanced to provide traffic alerts, directions and news without a built-in navigation system as part of new features that would be free for the first three years.
Similar systems are already offered by aftermarket suppliers here in Europe for traffic and ‘off board’ navigation.
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By GlobalDataFord executives said Sync-equipped vehicles sell nearly twice as fast as those without it. The $395 option was designed to be updated every few months, like consumer electronics, rather than the car model lifespan of every few years.
Toyota this week announced telematics services for its Toyota and Lexus brands, 12 years after GM’s pioneering OnStar hit the market.
