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Ford unveils new USB car sound system

CD players in automobiles could go the way of eight-track tapes with in-dash systems like one Ford Motor Co and Microsoft Corp are jointly producing to link cars with cell phones and personal music players.

The "Sync" system being unveiled today at the North American International Auto Show connects popular iPods and all other digital music players -- including Microsoft's nascent Zune -- to in-dash software through a USB port. Drivers will be able to pick songs, artists or genres using voice activation or controls on the steering wheel.

The system also links Bluetooth-capable smart phones and personal digital assistants to the car's electronics, allowing the car system to pick up Internet broadcasts. An electronic voice even will read inbound text messages through the sound system, complete with a vocabulary of slang abbreviations such as "LOL" for "laughing out loud."

Sync ratchets up the car electronics war as the struggling Ford tries to compete with General Motors Corp's OnStar system, DaimlerChrysler AG's MyGIG in-dash hard drive storage system and similar devices offered by other manufacturers.

It gives Ford leadership, at least for now, in what is becoming an increasingly competitive race in cabin electronics, said Kevin Reale, an AMR Research Inc automotive analyst who has been briefed by Microsoft on the Sync system.

"It's going to give them some competitive differentiation in being able to provide capabilities of personal electronics in the vehicle," said Reale, who predicted that other manufacturers will catch up quickly with other electronics suppliers.

Just last week, Hughes Telematics and DaimlerChrysler teamed up to develop a new system.

The whole race places the venerable CD in danger of extinction. Sync can even take music off a small USB thumb drive, ending the need to fumble with and store multiple CDs.

In fact, Ford already is discussing whether it needs to offer CD players in future models, said Gary Jablonski, the company's senior manager of "infotainment" systems.

"Certainly we know there are customers who have migrated their entire personal music collection to a digital realm, in which case, Sync and the USB connection will probably be the only thing in the vehicle that they use," Jablonski said.

"Is there a day when the CD player disappears from the vehicle? It seems likely," he added.

Ford plans to put the system in 12 of its vehicles starting next year. Company officials say it is likely to be an option that costs less than US$1,000.
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