Ford SYNC To Feature Wi-Fi In 2010

Ford has announced that its SYNC multi-media system will include Wi-Fi compatibility in 2010.  The system simply requires users to plug their wireless modem into the dash. By doing so, users are effectively making their car a wireless hotspot.  Anyone within (or near) the vehicle that has access to the hotspot can go online.  Ford claims that the system will work with any carrier’s modem, a nice feature for those of us tied to a specific service provider.

For those worried about people piggybacking on your wireless signal, Ford says:

Using the SYNC WiFi system, a signal will be broadcast throughout the vehicle. Default security is set to WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), requiring users to enter a randomly chosen password to connect to the Internet. When SYNC sees a new WiFi device for the first time, the driver must specifically allow that device to connect, preventing unauthorized users from “piggybacking” on the SYNC-provided signal.

As automotive designers continue to explore ways to make vehicles fit seamlessly with our connected lifestyles, they continue to make the move towards “car as gadget” – a sentiment expressed by Peter Rojas, founder of gdgt.com,  during PSFK’s most recent Good Ideas Salon in Tokyo.

via Gigaom