Ford adding Wi-Fi hotspots to cars
Ever dreamed that you could surf the Web while cruising down the road? Ford Motor Company is here to help.
Ford Motor Company is upgrading its SYNC technology which allows for a host of interactivity in the car. While it has already announced that you will be able to add apps for activities such as seeing stock quotes and getting social media updates, it has now been revealed that you will also be able to set up a Wi-Fi network inside of your car.
Using the built-in USB port, you will be able to attach a mobile broadband modem, and this will start up a Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) wireless network. This will ensure that only people in your car will be able to access the network, otherwise could you imagine the tailgaters you would get on the highway trying to keep up so they can use your network?
As to why the company is doing this, Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas, said, “While you’re driving to grandma’s house, your spouse can be finishing the holiday shopping and the kids can be chatting with friends and updating their Facebook profiles.” The company’s research found that 77 million Americans would describe themselves as technology enthusiasts, and of those people, approximately half said they would like to have Wi-Fi in their vehicles.
There have already been some options for creating Wi-Fi in your car via devices like the MiFi from various cellular companies, but this is a major step forward in reducing the needed accessories to using your computer in your car. Ford has also thought ahead and has made the SYNC system upgradeable via downloadable updates, so as new devices are released the system will continue to support the new technologies.
The mobile Wi-Fi will be installed in selected Ford models in 2010.
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