Ford Motor Co. is ]reducing by $100  the price of, Sync, the company’s in-car connectivity system, making it even more affordable offering it as an option on base trim levels for the first time.
"Ford Sync is making a difference. Our customers love it and recommend it, and our dealers want it on more products," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.
 "Sync already has brought hands-free, voice-activated in-car connectivity to millions, helping keep drivers' eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Now, Ford is making it even easier for customers to afford exactly what they want," Czubay said.
 The announcement of Ford’s latest push to make voice control the primary and safest way for customers to access mobile and smart devices while driving - a capability more and more drivers are demanding, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.
 In a 2010 study, the CEA found that 55 percent of smartphone owners prefer voice commands for in-car user interface. Sync users agree, with internal Ford research showing more than 85 percent say they use voice controls while driving, up from 60 percent in previous studies.
 Ford’s new pricing strategy makes Sync the most capable and most affordable in-car connectivity system in the industry. The new pricing will be available first on the 2012 Ford Explorer and Edge base models. Customers who opt for SYNC will pay only $295 for the award-winning in-car connectivity system, previously priced at $395. I
 Ford also has become the first car maker to endorse the Safe Drivers Act of 2011, proposed federal legislation for a nationwide ban on the use of hand-held mobile devices while driving. To date, 10 states, including California and New York, have legally banned talking on a hand-held cellphone while driving, with many local municipalities also following suit enacting their own set of restrictions. Text messaging while driving is banned in 34 states. By Joseph Szczesny