UPDATE: Ford To Partner With Best Buy To Offer Sync Assistance
October 15 2009 - 12:28PM
Dow Jones News
Ford Motor Co. (F) is partnering with electronics retailer Best
Buy Co. (BBY) to help Ford owners purchase cell phones that better
fit with their Sync voice-activation system.
Best Buy will keep a list of cell phones that are the most
compatible with the Sync system for consumers who want to pair the
two technologies together. Sync, an in-vehicle system co-developed
with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), allows drivers to change radio
stations and answer telephone calls through voice activation.
Ford is also considering expanding clinics at Best Buy locations
to demonstrate how the cell phone and Sync can be linked together,
said John Felice, general manager of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury
marketing.
The move continues Ford's push over the past two years to
promote the technology aspects of its vehicles as it looks to
attract younger consumers. Chief Executive Alan Mulally will
provide a keynote address - for the second straight year - at the
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next year.
Sync currently allow users to access phone calls, browse their
MP3 devices, call 911 and get traffic information or
directions.
-By Jeff Bennett; Dow Jones Newswires;
jeff.bennett@dowjones.com; 248-204-5542