Ford releases Sync pricing info
CNET readers were so impressed with Sync, the in-car media application developed by Microsoft for Ford, that they voted it the winner of the People's Voice award for Best of CES 2007. Today Ford released details on how much the people are going to have to fork over to choose Sync on select 2008 Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln models: a pretty reasonable $395.
(Credit:
Ford)
Those who do option up will get one of the most sophisticated media and communications systems available. As we found in our hands-on test, the Sync application, which runs on a Microsoft Auto platform, enables drivers to use voice commands to call up songs and artists from connected iPods, Zunes, and generic USB storage devices, as well as to make hands-free calls using a connected Bluetooth phone.
To put the Sync price in perspective, the Honda/Acura Music Link connector costs around $200 (exclusive of installation) for an iPod-only connection that still relies on old-fashioned manual programming, while factory-installed Bluetooth interfaces run between $200 and $300 (and more than $400 for Mercedes-Benz drivers), and only then when Bluetooth is offered a la carte, and not part of a more expensive package.
To see us playing around with Sync, which will be available in about a dozen 2008 FoMoCo models, check out our video from CES 2007.
I'm assuming ford and microsoft is planning on selling this in europe and asia as well.. if that is the case, will it be region locked?
- Kitchen Sync
- by cyberDJ-2038765336053745013836 August 10, 2007 3:02 PM PDT
- I find it ironic that Microsoft is the one to come the tech consumers' rescue and offer a solution to the one-side nature of car-device interoperability.
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(3 Comments)I've been waiting for something that connects to ANY handheld device; not just the iPod.
Microsoft just needs to offer this item for other auto makers.