Fall is approaching quickly meaning the much-anticipated debut of Sync by Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is almost here. Sync is an in-car communication and entertainment system that will be offered on Ford vehicles as a $395 option. The system will be controlled by voice recognition or steering wheel buttons and allows drivers to listen to their digital music players and have text messages on their cell phones read aloud.
Not to be left behind is Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) who is reportedly in talks with Volkswagen (FRA: VOW) to launch an iCar. Apple already works with Volkswagen and several other car companies to provide iPod service, but the iCar would bring more services to Volkswagen customers. Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn met in late August to discuss plans for the iCar, but no details have been released yet.
What do you think about Sync and the iCar? As Prescott points out at Perez-Fox.com, it's interesting that Apple chose to partner with Volkswagen instead of an American car company, and as car buyers are looking for more and more options in their cars, these systems should create unique differentiators for Ford and Volkswagen. If history repeats itself, Apple may be late to market, but their product will probably be better. What are your predictions?
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