An alliance between Ford and Microsoft puts Bluetooth and a connection for music players into a dozen 2008 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models.

By Bill Howard

What's a computer company doing inside my dashboard? Making beautiful music, among others things. Consider Sync, an alliance between Microsoft and Ford that puts two popular features into a dozen Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models in 2008: Bluetooth, for safer, hands-free cell phone calling, and a music connection for iPods and other music players.

While Microsoft might seem like an odd bedfellow for the auto industry, a version of the Microsoft operating system is already in the dashboard of more than 50 car models around the world. And the Sync entertainment and phone communications system is fully separated, or firewalled, from the electronics that control the engine and safety features.

An electronic firewall brings the term full circle: It first meant an unburnable partition between a vehicle's engine compartment and the passengers. Now it means a sturdy electronic wall between a computer and the Internet or, in this case, between the car's entertainment electronics (which is nice to have running) and the engine and safety electronics (which must work and can't be compromised).

Sync is the newest and best example of computing power in cars, but it's not the only one. Almost every car CD player also plays MP3 CDs created on home computers, and each MP3 can hold the contents of 10 regular CDs.

Automakers such as Audi, Chrysler, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz have added hard disks in the dashboard, enabling you to store dozens — or hundreds — of audio CDs as MP3 files, along with your car's navigation data. Some cars have slots in the dash for memory cards, so you can bring along MP3 files.

Others have USB jacks, which allow you to connect a memory key and sometimes a music player — which is what Sync does. The USB jack can also be used to recharge a phone or music player. Another popular option is an iPod adapter that lets you control your player from the car radio.

With Sync, buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel control the Bluetooth and music player features. There's also voice recognition, which users quickly learn to like. The Bluetooth adapter is mostly for phones, but it also streams, or transfers, music from some cell phones with built-in music players. And the music player connector is the same USB jack that's on virtually every PC and Mac built in the last decade.

In the Ford cars, the Bluetooth adapter lets you use an iPod and virtually every other music player. You can even put hundreds of songs on a USB key (available for less than $25) and play that. And, if your cell phone plays music, you may be able to stream the music via the same Bluetooth connection.

Passing the Test

On a test drive in Ford's redesigned-for-2008 Focus (a compact car with a base price of $15,000 to $17,000), I found the Sync features easy to use after only an hour or two. Initially, I used the console's radio controls, but then I switched to the voice input, which is even easier once you're familiar with it. I used commands such as "play artist Rolling Stones," "call home," "dial (number)", "what's playing" and my favorite, "play similar," in which Sync categorizes all the music on your player and finds similar songs.

Voice input also keeps your hands on the wheel: You just press the Media button on the steering wheel, wait for the prompt and talk. And Sync fetches your text messages. If a text message comes in on your cell phone, you get a notification and can have it read aloud through the car speakers. You can respond with 15 preset messages, such as "Yes," "No," "Call Me," and "Where Are You." But even though Sync recognizes your voice for audio and phone commands, it won't convert speech to text. And it handles only text messages, not e-mails.

Sync is available on a dozen 2008 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles: Ford Edge, Fusion, Sport Trac, Taurus and Taurus X; Lincoln MKX crossover and MKZ sedan; and the Mercury Milan, Mountaineer and Sable. This technology is typically included on the top version of each model; is a $395 option on the mid-range model; and is not available on the entry-level model. On cars with navigation systems, the display is bigger and you can see more Sync information at one time.

To get the best audio sound on the Focus, you can add the premium Audiophile package for $645, which includes better speakers and amplification. But that price includes a $350 CD changer that you probably don't need if you use an iPod, since a standard single disc changer is enough.

Currently, Sync is available only on designated Ford, Lincoln and Mercury 2008 models, since the company has a one-year exclusive in the United States. After that, other automakers can adopt a version of Sync under a different name, since Ford has trademarked Sync.

And the system will get better with time. One tantalizing option for the near future is a very low-cost navigation feature of Sync that would use a simple display (such as the radio faceplate) with directional arrows rather than moving maps, available at just a little more than what Sync costs now.

Bio: Bill Howard is an experienced automotive writer and the editor of TechnoRide.com, the car technology site produced by Ziff Davis. Previously, he was PC Magazine's executive editor. Howard is also vice president of the International Motor Press Association.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company or its affiliates.