So the iPhone 4S is here… and as we all wait for Apple to release the iPhone 5, many of us have renewed our cell phone contracts and have decided to get a Blackberry, an HTC, an LG or a Samsung Android-based smartphone – and Ford’s Sync system works well with them.
Sync, the hands-free infotainment system from Ford, is well into its fourth year of production. As cell phones evolve into smart phones, there have been some challenges using a more sophisticated phone with your vehicle’s systems. One of the challenges is that sometimes a cell phone company will “save” your phone contacts from your old phone and “transfer” them to your new Android phone. Even though we see just one name in our phone system, Sync sees the “old” number as well as the “new” number that has been transferred. This means for some Sync users that when you ask the system to “call” a contact using Sync, it sometimes can’t complete the task because of phone directory confusion.
You might consider trying a “clean” pairing. If you have already paired your Android-based phone to Sync, this means you should delete Sync from your Bluetooth device list on your phone. Go to the Sync menu on your vehicle, select System Setting, select Bluetooth Devices, and then Delete Device.
Begin the pairing process anew with Sync. In the Phone Menu, go to “Add Bluetooth Device,” and tell the system “OK.” The Sync system will generate a six-digit PIN number. However, use Seek button (the double arrow control) on the steering wheel, or turn the radio tuning knob until your display says “Special PIN.” Then hit OK and the PIN 0000 appears. Then go to your phone’s Settings Folder, go to the Manage Connectivity area and be sure your Bluetooth setting is turned on. Be sure the phone is “Discoverable” and then have it search for new devices. When your phone finds Sync, then select Sync, and it will prompt you to enter the four-digit PIN 0000.
The Sync system will pair with your phone. Hit OK to set your phone as a primary phone and you can download the phone book. Be sure to tell your phone that Sync is a “trusted device” and that it should always be on. There are several good reference videos on YouTube.
And here is a video link for Droid phones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbEaqkHAyQA
Here is a link for Blackberry phones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dYVMqMdZqc&list=PL05BC922DEA4983B2&index=9
So far the Blackberry Curve, the HTC Hero, the HTC Pro, the HTC EVO and Sanyo 3810 and many more are all Silver-rated with Ford’s Sync technology. The Silver rating means it can connect to your car via Bluetooth, automatically download your phonebook (so you don’t have to manually input phone contacts), and make/receive/end a hands-free call using voice commands and your speaker system. The LG Rumor Touch is Gold-rated so it will have the highest compatibility with Sync (this means it can handle the SMS messages in the text-to-voice mode). Check out the App Store for phone apps, such as Sync Destinations, that will work with Droid phones. This app can give you real-time traffic alerts and let you “send” traffic routes from Google Maps and MapQuest directly to the phone and get directions when you are driving. Also, you can have Pandora on these phones. First, start Pandora on your phone, then connect to Bluetooth Audio with voice commands or by plugging into the USB port.
Sync offers a lot of new functions that you can take advantage of while driving. Be sure to visit Ford’s Sync My Ride website for more information. There’s a lot more than just making and receiving phone calls with the new in-vehicle technology. These systems allow you to use phone Apps to get a lot more out of your driving experience. Why not get the most out of it!