SYNC (Ford--sorry if this has been discussed)

I just bought a new car equipped with SYNC. I was looking for information on whether my Pearl will be able let the SYNC read my texts to me...the SYNC says not, but I'm thinking I might just be doing it wrong or there needs to be a setting.

I checked on the Sync: Voice-activated mobile phone and digital music system for your car site, but it's apparently so new it doesn't really have a lot of information. For instance, it has my Pearl listed, and my carrier listed, but not together.

If there is already a discussion of this going on somewhere, please point me there...I did a search and found only one reference...

besiderself

I have a Ford Edge with M/S Sync in it. I love the sync system but have one question. My phone has a ring tone that I downloaded off Crackberry.com and I would llike that to come thru the system when the phone rings but I only have three options when choosing a ring tone. Has anyone been sucussful doing this?

Originally Posted by grady0706

I have a Ford Edge with M/S Sync in it. I love the sync system but have one question. My phone has a ring tone that I downloaded off Crackberry.com and I would llike that to come thru the system when the phone rings but I only have three options when choosing a ring tone. Has anyone been sucussful doing this?

Won't happen, those 3 are the only stored on the Sync, your are stored on your phone.

I had the phone working and all the sudden stop. I went to the dealership and they stated it wasn't supported. I am sure there is a way to fix it but haven't figured it out yet.

As to the Ringtone transfer issues... I used to have a Motorola Q9c running Windows Mobile 6.1 that successfully streamed my ringtones over my 08 Mercury Milan's Sync system. It would interrupt radio, CDs, etc. with my phone's custom ringtone.

With my Bold 9930, it no longer happens. I tried setting my ringtone to "phone ringer" in the car's settings menu, but to no avail.

My latest research indicates that perhaps the 9930 (and I suspect other BB devices) do not actively run the needed Bluetooth profiles to support features like this.

It's the same reason why different phones don't have support for controlling a device's media player or display track tag metadata -- you have to have to bluetooth profiles for these features on both ends.

Ringtone streaming theoretically is part of the Handsfree Profile (HFP) or Headset Profile (HSP), but my 9930 supports both and still nothing. I'm on the latest sync version I can get without a dealer upgrade (that's 1.3 for me) and I'm on the latest Verizon release of my Bold's OS 7 (7.0.0.374). I haven't tried to delete the connection and repair since the .374 update, but I've repaired every time I've updated Sync.

We'll see what happens. I think it is important that this gets researched more in depth though.

Originally Posted by besiderself

I just bought a new car equipped with SYNC. I was looking for information on whether my Pearl will be able let the SYNC read my texts to me...the SYNC says not, but I'm thinking I might just be doing it wrong or there needs to be a setting.

I checked on the SyncMyRide.com site, but it's apparently so new it doesn't really have a lot of information. For instance, it has my Pearl listed, and my carrier listed, but not together.

If there is already a discussion of this going on somewhere, please point me there...I did a search and found only one reference...

besiderself

I'll paste the full text of the Ford press release below that should answer your questions. I haven't posted enough to be allowed to just post the link for you.

It's a long standing issue with Sync that it isn't compatible with many phones to do the text msg stuff. The CNET Car Tech guys have discussed this at length as well. Try the car tech live podcasts. Sync is a topic they hit frequently. You can hit their show notes before listening to see if it may be a topic they do in a given show. I recall they did discuss the press release and similar topics sometime in the least few weeks.

The Ford press release:
News Center
New SYNC Software Update Adds Bluetooth MAP Standard; Ford Poised to Give More Drivers Safer Texting Alternatives

Latest Ford SYNC� software updates will give owners of select SYNC Generation 1-equipped 2011 and 2012 vehicles access to the emerging Bluetooth� standard – Message Access Profile (MAP) – so SYNC can stream and read text messages aloud from compatible smartphones
Ford elected to voluntarily adopt MAP in an aggressive effort to improve the number of phones that will work with the hands-free text message readback feature of SYNC
Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) sees growing MAP adoption among leading cell phone manufacturers

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 18, 2011 – Ford has released its latest free SYNC� software update, G1 V3.2.2, to give more SYNC users the ability to have text messages read aloud to them while driving.

Tailored for owners of select SYNC-equipped 2011 and early-release 2012 vehicles, the update includes the emerging Message Access Profile (MAP) Bluetooth� standard, which is custom-made for the automotive hands-free environment and outlines a set of features and procedures used to exchange email, SMS and MMS between devices – in this case SYNC and the smartphone.

Last year, Ford announced it was voluntarily integrating MAP into SYNC for all 2011 MyFord Touch�-equipped vehicles and is now extending the capability to the broader SYNC user community – with thousands of 2011 and 2012 vehicles equipped with the first generation SYNC system.

“A limited population of phones has the capability to work with the text message readback feature of SYNC,” said Mark Porter, supervisor of SYNC Product Development. “With our initial adoption of MAP for our latest generation of SYNC and our recent efforts to integrate it into our previous variations of the system, we hope we are setting an example that encourages more collaboration between Ford, the phonemakers and the wireless industry to help drivers find smarter alternatives to hand-held texting while on the road.”

According to Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), MAP adoption by mobile device manufacturers is still in its infancy but the growth needle is starting to quiver.

“Texting is becoming a ubiquitous part of our day, so it stands to reason the remote message access profile is an essential addition for handsets, automobiles, headsets and aftermarket car kits,” said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director Bluetooth SIG. “The Bluetooth MAP standard gives users the ability to simply and smartly manage incoming text messages from their vehicle while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. We are seeing significant uptake in MAP adoption among phonemakers, in particular with recent qualifications from manufacturers such as HTC, RIM, Samsung and LG.”

Ready for an update
Since SYNC launched in 2007, Ford has offered several significant and simple software-based updates. And owners are taking advantage, with software downloads recorded on syncmyride.com ranging up to nearly 14,000 each month in 2011.

Major SYNC updates that have been released to date include:
G1 V2.0 – availability of 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report for 2008 SYNC-equipped vehicles (dealership installation required) (December 2008)
G1 V3.0/V3.1 – availability of SYNC Services for Traffic, Directions and Information services for 2010 SYNC-equipped vehicles (June 2009)
G1 V3.2 – improved voice command structure, constant display of turn-by-turn directions and GPS coordinates for 911 Assist for 2011 SYNC-equipped vehicles (April 2010)
G1 V4.0 – AppLink™ software application for hands-free voice control of smartphone apps for the 2011 Ford Fiesta only (December 2010)
G1 V3.2.2 (non-AppLink)/V4.0.2 (AppLink-equipped) – increased MAP support for select 2011 and early-release 2012 SYNC-equipped vehicles with AppLink such as Ford Mustang (May 2011)

Ford owners interested in finding out if their SYNC-equipped vehicle is eligible for any of the available SYNC updates can visit syncmyride.com and enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). If eligible, owners can simply download the update to a USB memory stick and bring into their vehicle for installation through SYNC’s USB port.

# # #

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit ford.com.

Originally Posted by indyhuxley

I had the phone working and all the sudden stop. I went to the dealership and they stated it wasn't supported. I am sure there is a way to fix it but haven't figured it out yet.

Go to ford sync and update sync to latest version. So versions upgrades will cost you money