No, it’s not the kitchen sink they’re bringing, but an onboard computer system called Sync that uses Bluetooth to let you dial contacts and numbers by voice, and by using buttons on the steering wheel, let you choose artists and music from iPods and Zunes by voice and listen to SMS text messages read out to you, in addition to other changes Ford has made to recapture the youth segment of the car market.

BREAKING NEWS: GM has decided to revive the electric car, last seen as the EV-1, star of the movie 'Who Killed the Electric Car'. Read our full article on the new EV-1 replacement, the GM Chevrolet Volt here, but in the meantime, the rest of the Microsoft and Ford 'Sync' story is below.

Microsoft doesn't intend to dominate the car industry by producing their own electric car or hybrid card, of course. Well, at least, not yet. They plan on doing so by offering car manufacturers, and you, the software that will drive the in-car entertainment system which connects with your cell phone and mp3 player.

Voice controlled, with the option of what sounds like a numeric keypad or similar buttons on the steering wheel, the system works with a Bluetooth equipped mobile phone to dial numbers and contacts in your address book. It will also read out SMS text messages to you, and even understands and will correctly interpret LOL or the picture of a smiley face emoticon, while iPod and Zune integration gives you voice control over your playlist.

While the initial reports don’t make any mention of surfing web pages by voice and having relevant information read out to you, nor things such as voice messages that are emailed, all by voice, nor even things such as voice control of your GPS mapping system, allowing you to enter in your destination address without needing to press any buttons on a GPS touch screen, there can be no doubt that this is already on the roadmap for future versions of Sync.

Although Microsoft has already sold a similar system to Fiat last year, this new version is said to be exclusive to Ford through to the end of 2008. It will initially be available in 12 upcoming 2008 models, after which it will be available across most, if not all, of Ford’s range.

Microsoft’s Senior Product Manager for Sync, Velle Kolde, was keen to work with Ford as it represents the opportunity for Sync to be used in more than 600 million cars worldwide.

Ford lost US $7b in nine months last year, and has been looking for ways to revitalize their product line. The smooth Ford Focus compact car has lost some of its luster of late, as competing manufacturers have redefined the small car beyond Ford’s innovations and have been stealing Ford’s market share.

But Ford is striking back, not only with new onboard computing and entertainment through Microsoft’s Sync software, but with a redefined Ford Focus that even has such niceties has mood lighting in the car that even lights up in the cup holder and foot rest areas, with a small dial that lets you flick through different color schemes to set the appropriate mood while driving, somewhat similar to the many different ringtones available on phones, something enormously popular with those born from 1977 to 2002, also known as Generation Y or Echo Boomers, or essentially young people totally in tune with all of today’s technology.

Sync will be launched at both the CES in Las Vegas and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and will no doubt encourage competing car manufacturers to introduce systems of their own. We can imagine that Japanese car makers would want to work with companies like Sony who have plenty of their own computing and operating system capabilities, while Korean car makers would want to work with companies like Samsung or LG. High end BMW and Mercedes cars already have advanced entertainment and navigation systems within, but would also be prime candidates.

Of course, Microsoft will eventually want to woo all car makers, American, Japanese, Korean, European and Chinese car makers too, with future, more powerful and more user friendly versions of Sync, no doubt taking advantage of the latest in-car wireless technologies, and flash storage solutions from Sandisk and others, with even Seagate’s automotive rated hard drives obvious components.

Finally, in 2007, we are seeing cars take some important steps into the future. One is the undeniable trend towards electric cars like the Tesla Roadster (even if we are forced to temporarily take the gas or hydrogen and electric hybrid detour), while the other is powerful computing technology easily controlled by voice, letting us communicate and choose in-car entertainment without taking our eyes off the road.

BREAKING NEWS: GM has decided to revive the electric car, last seen as the EV-1, star of the movie 'Who Killed the Electric Car'. Read our full article on the new EV-1 replacement, the GM Chevrolet Volt here.
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