Malaysians are one of the highest uses of smartphones in the world. The availability of devices as soon as they are released into the market and the variety of innovatively priced telecommunication packages have pushed most urban Malaysians to be ever reliant on their phones on a daily basis almost all day. The smartphone has become a device that cannot be left behind at home and being connected has become a necessity in almost every situation. So, for drivers who sit in traffic jams daily, the usage of their phone (even when it is banned while driving) while driving has become a concern for the authorities and also driver/owners alike. This is where Ford leads all other car manufacturers with ‘Ford Sync’. A recent Internet study found that 27% of adults admit to texting while driving, and 61% admit to talking on the phone when driving. Of those that admit to using a phone for talking for texting while driving, 17% report hitting an object/car/kerb while using their phones.
It’s clear that people aren’t going to give up connectivity just because they’re driving. That’s one of the reasons that Ford offers its Sync infotainment system in all their latest models. It first appeared in the latest award winning Ford Fiesta and will soon arrive in the all new Ranger pickup truck. Now we see it in the latest Ford Focus which was just unveiled at the 2012 Bangkok Motor Show. Ford Sync connects the car to a cell phone, allowing the driver to use voice commands for things like making calls or playing MP3 files. It also uses voice commands for the car’s systems, like the radio and climate controls, so the driver’s eyes are always on the road and hands on the steering wheel. Ford Sync was co-developed with Microsoft where Ford was the worlds 1st car manufacturer to provide this system and allow.
In order to use Sync, a driver’s smart phone must be Bluetooth enabled. Just do it once and every time after that it works with Ford Sync without the driver having to take the phone out of their handbag/pocket, briefcase. With the Bluetooth connection, Sync connects to the phone wirelessly. Sync can read incoming texts to the driver, and place calls. The driver can also reply a text via voice and change their music selection via voice also. The number of things Ford Sync can do is impressive, especially when you consider that it’s available on affordable cars like the Ford Fiesta and the latest Ranger and soon to be launched 3rd generation Focus. Other car companies are now working fast with other technology companies to come up with their own Sync-like systems, but Ford Sync is years ahead and with constant upgrade of services to come to their newer models as well as upgrades to current Ford models at no extra cost to owners.
