Ford has embarked on a grand plan to transform its vehicles into rolling WiFi hot spots with the second-generation Sync in-car connectivity system.
According to Ford president Mark Fields, Sync is activated by simply inserting a standard USB mobile broadband modem – or “air card” – into the system’s USB port. ??This produces a secure, wireless connection that is broadcasted throughout the vehicle.
“While you’re driving to grandma’s house, your spouse can be finishing the holiday shopping and the kids can be chatting with friends and updating their Facebook profiles,” said Ford president Mark Fields.
“And you’re not paying for yet another mobile subscription or piece of hardware because Ford will let you use technology you already have.”
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Fields noted that Sync WiFi default security will be set to WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), which requires 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,” added Fields. ??
