Microsoft speculates on ad-supported Sync

Apparently, Microsoft has plans for Sync that extend beyond the standard voice-activation scheme they've got going right now. The company wants to deliver a wider range of network connectivity for in-car use, and they're debating the possibility of moving away from subscription-based services to an ad-funded scenario. What exactly does that mean? We'll let Martin Thall, general manager of Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit explain: "We know where you are and we know where you're headed," he says, seemingly unaware of the Orwellian implications. "We could target that advertising directly to your car." You getting that? Targeted ads. In your car. While you're driving. Apparently, execs don't think you'll mind being bombarded inside your vehicle because you're, "used to advertising in the car. We hear ads on the radio and see billboards on the road." Of course, this is speculation on future technologies, so nothing is set in stone -- hopefully someone comes to their senses before our hovercar interiors glitter with holographic spam.

[Zach @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:45PM]

Don't worry, I'm sure the first lawsuit that arises because someone got into an accident, too distracted by the advertising will render this service defunct.

[sk8rpro @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:56PM]

Agreed. That's why it won't happen.

But if it does, I'll just download Lavasoft's Auto Ad-Aware. While driving, the car may slow down while scanning for intrusive ads, but I would consider that a small price to pay so I won't get into an accident.

[Aguiluz @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:06PM]

Yup. Ads should be turned off because they are no better than those billboards they put up around the city. On the plus side though, is Microsoft befriending Apple? Or is it reverse? I personally think Apple should be locked out to boost the sales of Zune.

[Tarrence @ Mar 2nd 2008 8:05PM]

The adds will probably be something akin to Google Adwords, when you search for a POI it shows "sponsored" points of interest that are nearby or when your driving on the freeway it shows if one of the advertising stores nearby has a store at the next offramp. Im sure it wont be full on video or audio advertising.

[Reid @ Mar 2nd 2008 10:18PM]

Gee I can't wait till MS's adware starts slowing down your in-car computer to a crawl. Incoming phone calls that don't ring until just before it goes to VM like on my WM5 phone or something.

Though to be fair, my understanding is iDrive runs MS software, and while it's got it's share of problems, random slowness/hanging is not one of them.

What they seem to not understand is that you don't OWN the airwaves, the rights to the music played on the radio, or the land that the billboards are on. Sure, you're *used* to seeing and hearing ads, but it doesn't mean you like it. Plus, it doesn't take up space on something you own. Why would I want some percentage of my (say) 800x600 display wasted on advertising? When you drop hundreds of dollars on a media system, or thousands on a SatNav system, you expect to be able to USE it.

They should instead compare it with how users would feel about paying for a computer, paying for a monitor, paying for a copy of Windows, and THEN having your hardware wasted to show you ads.

Some product/marketing folks just don't get it.

[Jack @ Mar 3rd 2008 5:59AM]

heh, I can Imagine it now:
"your ads crashed my car!"
"have you tried getting and getting back in?"

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:48PM]

whats with the zune and and an ipod.

[Big John @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:02PM]

Sync supports both? That's just a generic Sync press image.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:51PM]

i know, but micrsoft made sync. An ipod would be odd in it's own pic

[Big John @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:59PM]

I still don't follow you here. The iPod is an extremely popular product. It'd be foolish for MS/Ford not to include it in a generic press picture. They are, after all, marketing a product.

[Backlin @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:29PM]

I think the Zune looks more out of place than the iPod...
But yeah they would be dumb not to support the iPod.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:34PM]

I totally agree with all of you, but it's MS. It is possible

[Neebs @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:46PM]

A Brown Zune 1, no less.

[Abuzar @ Mar 2nd 2008 8:38PM]

Get you eyes checked, it's black! lol

I had a Halo 3 Edition Zune 30 and I loved it to death. Now that I have a Zune 80 though, I don't know why I carried around a player that thick...

I wish they would make a cool Halo Edition 80GB Zune.

[pk @ Mar 2nd 2008 9:31PM]

Has anybody noticed that they never say 'Microsoft' Sync when the commercial shows an ipod in the car?

If an iPod is shown in the commercial they will just say 'Sync'

Wondering If it was just me?

[dcny @ Mar 3rd 2008 1:21AM]

@PK they always say Sync by Microsoft.

[Mtirv @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:49PM]

This is going to be almost as successful as Windows Vista!

[gibber9583 @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:29PM]

zing?

[PeterF @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:32PM]

DANG they are going to sell that many? thats a lot for something that expensive!

[Abuzar @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:41PM]

So it's going to be a success?

[ben @ Mar 2nd 2008 8:01PM]

So it's going to sell 100 million copies?

[Scott @ Mar 2nd 2008 10:10PM]

Yeah, Vista is such a success! It's like business 101 to drop your software prices across the board due to overwhelming success!

[Zach @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:04AM]

Yea, cause don't you remember that failure the iPhone? Remember when they dropped their prices due to how few phones they were selling? pft.

[jbhitter24 @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:50PM]

i don't think it sounds that bad. i don't see anyone complaining about all the ads on the radio, and imagine that ads that sync will have will be nowhere near the level as to what we see on tv and hear on the radio. and as long as its free i'm happy.

[Big John @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:02PM]

Except I don't listen to the radio that much because advertisements drive me nuts. Thanks for the free service and all, but they had better let me opt-out somehow (including paying for it, like you do now).

[Zach @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:04PM]

Seriously? So when I go to use my navigation system or when I want to change a song I'll have to watch a 15-second clip for something I've already paid a $1500 premium. No thanks :)

The radio's commercials are understandable. They have to be paid somehow... and I don't listen to it. I use my iPod in my car.

Ford and Microsoft would regret this decision.

[Bloobie @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:23PM]

Zach:
No one said that you would be subjected to an ad when using your navigation system or changing a song. They merely hinted at the possibility of using targeted advertising to pay for additional, yet-to-be announced services. So far, there are no networked services available for Sync. They have only announced two upcoming features (for the Fall of 2008), which are 911 assistance and vehicle health reports.

[Big John @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:25PM]

@Zach: $1500? Sync is $395. Don't lump the nav system into this. The nav system isn't Sync (not to mention, navigation isn't available on all Ford models that have Sync such as the Fusion).

[m @ Mar 2nd 2008 9:16PM]

@jbhitter24: are you serious? you never hear anyone complain about how many ads there are on the radio? most commercial stations are nothing BUT ads! it drives me, and many others, totally insane. it's the main reason NPR, car ports for iPods, and satellite radio are all so successful.

[Zach @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:58PM]

I lumped the navigation touch-screen into the mix because otherwise, how do they plan on sticking said advertising in. When I call for 911 Assistance, are they going to force me to listen to 30-second advert before calling dispatch?

If you're NOT going to link the navigation system, and just the current rendition of Sync - then what? When I wanna switch songs on my iPod will I have to listen to an ad? Or between calls will I have to hear about the current town I'm driving in to. I stopped listening to radio and solely to my iPod because of the advertising and song quality. I can pick what I want to listen to and NOT be bombarded with advertising every other song.

Call this FUD for me, but I'm wary about anything smelling of a major corporation ruining a technology that so far has been positive for the Microsoft and ford image.

[Big John @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:01PM]

"When I call for 911 Assistance, are they going to force me to listen to 30-second advert before calling dispatch?"

And with that statement, I'm disregarding anything you're going to say because you're clearly out of your mind.

[Sam Winter @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:09PM]

yes it is bad. ad-supported radio is a totally different concept, and most people don't listen to radio. Seriously, who the hell listens to FM quality crap anymore?

[BigD145 @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:28PM]

I don't listen to the radio BECAUSE it's full of ads.

[michael @ Mar 2nd 2008 7:47PM]

@Sam Winter and BigD145:

Just because you don't like FM radio at all, doesn't mean other people don't. I really dislike it when people talk trash about things they don't even use.

Why do people still like use ad-supported radio? Why do they still exist?

Well it's free for starters. I get live news that comes to me instantly. I sometimes get a handy traffic tip if I don't have my navigation device handy. I sometimes enter in radio contests to win tickets and stuff. There's a daily mystery 'whodunit' on of the local stations. I get to hear new music. And did I mention it was free?

[Zach @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:06AM]

"And with that statement, I'm disregarding anything you're going to say because you're clearly out of your mind."

That was the point of the statement - to make an obviously ridiculous statement about how the ads will be implemented. The obvious method is to implement them as Points of Interest - which I'm completely against! I don't need McDonalds and Foot Locker flashing across my navigation just because I'm driving down freeway.

[JonnyBongo @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:51PM]

How is this any different than the millions of users of Gmail who have their emails surrounded by targeted Google ads and news feeds? That's how I initially found Engadget.

[Big John @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:01PM]

The difference is I can remove the ads if I want through third-party software (AdBlock, in my case).

[Sukhminder @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:06PM]

Road versus Internet

[JonnyBongo @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:16PM]

@BigJohn: And when the silent majority jumps into the ad-block revolution, viable media returns to being wholly subscription based. If something is free, I prefer a happy medium to an all-or-nothing approach that does nothing but forces the losing 51% to rethink and ultimately fight back financially.

[monkfishbandana @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:19PM]

a) They are only on the right-hand side.
b) You can just use a mail client like Thunderbird.
c) It's a small price to pay for such a great email service.

[Big John @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:24PM]

@JonnyBongo: You'll see from my other comments that I'm willing to pay for the service to make sure it's ad-free. It's not like I want it all and I want it all for free.

[Skullfighter @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:25PM]

This is quite ridiculous. If I get it for free, and the ads aren't too obnoxious, I'm sold. (pun intended)

Otherwise pay and enjoy ad free!

You'd think this was a choice between life and death.

[Jeff @ Mar 3rd 2008 7:01AM]

The main difference is that most people are not driving while using Gmail. And those that are should stop.

[sully @ Mar 3rd 2008 10:31AM]

Well, the internet is not a dump truck. Whereas there are dump trucks on roads.

The tubes only come into play in urban areas.

[Andy @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:52PM]

Who drives a Ford?

[austin @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:01PM]

Found On Road Dead

Fix Or Repair Daily

[Big John @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:02PM]

Autoblog is that way -->

[roach @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:04PM]

Ford F-150 is best selling vehicle of any type in the world.

[austin @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:14PM]

roach- the wrongest comment ever.

its actually the camry... or accord. not sure which this week

[rv @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:46PM]

@Roach: Then there must be a lot more idiots in the world than I thought.