The Ford Motor Company
will turn vehicles into rolling Wi-Fi hot spots when it introduces the
second generation of its popular SYNC(®) in-car connectivity system
next year.
Inserting an
owner's compatible USB mobile broadband modem - sometimes called an
"air card" - into SYNC's USB port will produce a secure wireless
connection that will be broadcast throughout the vehicle, allowing
passengers with WiFi-enabled mobile devices to access the Internet
anywhere the broadband modem receives connectivity.
"While
you're driving to grandma's house, your spouse can be finishing the
holiday shopping and the kids can be chatting with friends and updating
their Facebook profiles," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The
Americas. "And you're not paying for yet another mobile subscription or
piece of hardware because Ford will let you use technology you already
have."
Studies by the
Consumer Electronics Association show that as many as 77 million adults
make up the so-called technology enthusiast drivers population, more
than half of whom express the desire for a connected communications and
information system in their vehicles. Even among the general
population, more than one third of Americans would be interested in the
ability to check email and access Web sites in their vehicles.
Upgradeable and secure
The
USB port provided by SYNC lets owners leverage a variety of devices,
including the mobile broadband modem. And through simple software
updates, SYNC can be adapted to connect with the latest devices.
"The
speeds with which technology is evolving, particularly on the wireless
front, makes obsolescence a real problem," said Doug VanDagens,
director of Ford's Connected Services Solutions Organization. "We've
solved that problem by making SYNC work with just about any technology
you plug into it. By leveraging a user's existing hardware, which can
be upgraded independent of SYNC, we've helped ensure 'forward
compatibility' with whatever connectivity technology comes next."
The
SYNC WiFi capability is a simple solution for bringing internet into
the vehicle, versus competitive systems on the market. Being
factory-installed, the hardware is seamlessly integrated into the
vehicle, whereas competitor's systems are dealer-installed and require
a bulky bolt-in receiver and transmitter that take up cabin space.
Also, competitive systems cost approximately $500 for equipment and
installation, not to mention the monthly subscription fee.
"Using
SYNC with existing mobile devices helps Ford provide the most value,
the most flexibility and the most convenience for owners," said Fields.
"Constant connectivity is becoming a routine part of our customers'
lives, and we're making existing technology more accessible without
adding costs: That's the kind of value Ford drivers have learned to
expect."
Using the SYNC
WiFi system, a signal will be broadcast throughout the vehicle. Default
security is set to WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), requiring users to
enter a randomly chosen password to connect to the Internet. When SYNC
sees a new WiFi device for the first time, the driver must specifically
allow that device to connect, preventing unauthorized users from
"piggybacking" on the SYNC-provided signal.