REDMOND, Wash. — March 31, 2010 — What does a 16,000 pound semitruck have in common with a 315 horse-powered Ford Mustang GT? When you talk, these vehicles listen.
This week, Ford Motor Co. announced that Ford SYNC, powered by Microsoft, has been installed in 2 million vehicles. This comes only 10 months after Ford delivered the 1 millionth SYNC-equipped car, a 2010 Fusion Hybrid, to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Ford SYNC, powered by Microsoft
We’ve been working with Ford on developing in-vehicle technology since before Ford SYNC hit the roads back in fall 2007. With MyFord Touch and the latest features in Ford SYNC, such as mobile applications, real-time traffic and directions, and bringing Wi-Fi capabilities to the car, we celebrate their successes as they continue breaking new ground with in-vehicle infotainment by taking full advantage of the power of Microsoft technology.
From a Ford to a commercial semitruck, the flexibility of our automotive software platform allows us to shift gears with ease.
PACCAR, through its two truck divisions Kenworth and Peterbilt, today introduced a new in-truck system tailored specifically to the commercial trucking industry. We co-developed this system with PACCAR using the Windows Embedded Automotive software platform. It’s an exciting time for both of us as the Kenworth NavPlus and Peterbilt SmartNav systems mark the first of their kind in the commercial trucking industry.
Kenworth NavPlus, developed on the Windows Embedded Automotive software platform, is tailored specifically to the commercial trucking industry.
Truck drivers now have simple and convenient access to a mix of business tools, vehicle monitoring features, and entertainment options from commercial truck-enhanced navigation and diagnostics to hands-free phone calling and music management. All features are accessed through voice or touch-enabled commands.
Microsoft Silverlight is also used for the first time in the transportation space and takes on the role of helping PACCAR create a rich and engaging user experience on the full-color, high-resolution 7-inch touch screen. Kenworth NavPlus and Peterbilt SmartNav are being shown this week at the trucking industry’s premier event, the Mid-America Trucking Show, and are expected to be available in trucks later this year.
As people continue to expect easy access to content in every aspect of their on-the-go lifestyle, it’s fueling a demand for more sophisticated in-car, and now in-truck, infotainment systems. We’re seeing more and more car and now truck manufacturers alike responding by using technology as a competitive differentiator, and we feel we’re at the center of this innovation with our partners in the automotive industry, ready to meet this consumer demand.
Mukund Ghangurde, director, product management, Microsoft Windows
