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Ford USB Music Box adds mass storage playback, smartphone charging to AUX-enabled receivers

Sure, you've probably been leading a compact disc-less life in the living room and on the go for quite a few years now, but there's one place where optical media often remains the only option for on-demand tunes: your car. Now select Ford owners in Europe have an option accessing and controlling their smartphones, flash drives or other USB mass storage devices from an in-dash audio system. The USB Music Box connects to compatible audio and nav systems with an AUX input, and lives in the glovebox, center console or armrest, pumping tunes through your car's speakers with "great sound quality very similar to that of the radio." Last time we checked, FM radio has an equivalent bitrate quite a bit lower than your typical digital music file, so that's not exactly a glowing testimonial. Still, if you're desperate for a way to carry thousands of tracks in your car without filling the trunk with an array of sizable silver saucers, it might be time to toss aside the gloves and open up the Music Box -- assuming, of course, that you own one of ten recent models outlined in the PR just past the break.

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Plug In, Turn Up, Rock Out: Ford Creates Sound Solution For Tapping Into Music

- Ford USB Music Box is an aftermarket accessory enabling drivers of vehicles not factory-fitted with a USB port to connect any USB mass storage device to their vehicle's stereo
- Songs and albums can be selected via the steering wheel-mounted controls
- Devices such as phones and MP3 players recharge when connected

COLOGNE, Germany, Dec. 16, 2011 – As anyone who has spent a long journey endlessly flicking through radio stations will testify, sometimes only your own music collection will do.

However, if your vehicle doesn't have a factory-fitted USB port, connecting your MP3 player can often result in a maze of wires, inferior sound quality, and no remote control function. Thankfully, Ford is now offering an aftermarket accessory that provides the solution – the USB Music Box.

Offered through Ford dealers across Europe, the USB Music Box enables drivers and their passengers to plug their MP3 player, or any USB mass storage device, into the car and listen to their choice of music in razor sharp quality.

Axel Wilke, director, Vehicle Personalisation, Ford Customer Service Division Europe, explained: "Many of our newer vehicles are fitted with a USB port as standard, but drivers of older vehicles don't have to miss out anymore. The USB Music Box lets you connect any USB mass storage device, it produces a great sound quality very similar to that of the radio - and it also gives you the ability to flick between songs and albums via the controls on their steering wheel. And it can charge the device too!"

The USB Music Box consists of a USB socket, which can be placed out of sight in the glove compartment, centre console or armrest. Any USB mass storage device, such as a mobile phone, MP3 player or USB stick, can be connected. Stored music can then be played through the AUX channel on the car's stereo. Songs, albums and folders can be selected through the steering wheel-mounted controls, while devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players and cameras will automatically recharge whenever they are connected.

Simple Plug and Play wiring means the device can be fitted and ready to play your favourite tunes in less than an hour.

Specifications:

The USB Music Box is compatible with all Ford audio and navigation systems with AUX button in these models:

Fiesta 2006 - 2008
Fusion from 2006
Focus 2004 - 2011
C-MAX 2003 - 2010
Kuga
Mondeo from 2004
S-MAX
Galaxy from 2006
Transit Connect from 2006
Transit from 2006