Microsoft working on in-car advertising
March 10, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
It’s that special time in the morning, usually between 7-8:30am when the majority of us get in our cars and drive to work. It’s when traffic is standing still and the last thing you can tolerate is annoying ads, but that’s just what you might get if Microsoft has its way.
The software giant’ s in-car system, Microsoft Sync, which is currently deployed exclusively in American delivered Ford vehicles, has some amazing features. It can connect (via Bluetooth) to 12 phones, it can read out new SMS messages and you can then reply by verbal command – it can even make you coffee…
Okay, so it can’t make you coffee, but what it will soon be able to do is give you automatic updates on traffic congestion. Utilising a built in Sat-Nav it may even direct you around traffic.
Of course, being made by Microsoft, it will probably crash and send you towards a high-security prison, but while you’re on your way it will start showing you ads.
Microsoft says that data delivery will be expensive and uptake of the technology will be minimal if drivers had to pay. So instead, you will receive ads from local shops.
Driving towards a Bunnings? The car will simply tell you that you’re only 3 left turns away, or perhaps you can do with a Big-Mac?
Sounds like a logical plan, free information for advertising, a model we are all very used to, but just how exactly Microsoft plans to display ads on an LCD screen without distracting the driver is beyond us.
Would you rather pay for this service or tolerate some ads?
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Yeh right there, it will no doubt crash frequently, you have to select “Start” to stop and their antivirus is sooo crap you have a trojan wizzing round the engine managemnt system in no time at all. On top of all that you’ll be so distracted by adverts you forget what your supposed to be doing and drive through a bus shelter killing numbers of enviromentally friend people trying to get to work.
Nah no for me, i’ll stick with the $300 portable sat nav.
i ight consider the Apple iDrive if they ever do it!!!
MS has made some bad shit, but you have to give MS some credit for pushing forward with a common platform.
As long as the ad revenue went toward making my car cheaper to buy or run then I’m all for it.
No Name: Yet another Mac fanboy. Are you waiting for the Australian release of the jesusPhone too?
Aaargh!
I come here to escape the Microsoft/Apple Fanboyism of the other blogs I frequent. I can live with the Holden/Ford (and strangely (insanely?) Toyota) Fanboyism that comes with Aussie car blogs as it has nothing on the devotion shown by computer zealots.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to poke my eyes out with a fork….
Well how much would the system cost & if I paid would that mean no ads at all (unlike f***ing foxtel). If it was too much i’d put up with some ads as long as i could choose what my interests were, & they weren’t getting in my way.
The other day I was stuck in heavy traffic where ther normally is none, so I called upon ancient technology to find out if I should turn around and find an alternate route – the CB Radio.
Channel 40 – Hey guys, anyone know what the holdup is on FTG Road? Immediate answer – a prang and rubbernecking, no road blockage.
Didn’t have to listen to any crap ads, and didn’t need Microsoft’s help.
And no point in bashing Microsoft, without them we’d have a much worse technology experience today. I can remember Netware, I have tried Apple (but without MS Apple would have ceased to exist years ago – don’t believe me? do some research) and I have tried Linux, and it just won’t run my ESSENTIAL accounting program.
I know what you mean about Foxtel Glen. It used to have the occasional ad for one of its own shows, but thats all changed now :(
How many distractions do drivers need?
Thing is when the system crashes or freezes you will probably have to have your foot on the accelerator, one hand on the handbrake and one on the Front Left passenger door handle with either the boot up or the wipers going etc
[similar to Ctrl Alt Del] inorder to get your car started again
Bloody Americans and their techno crap. Why can’t they let the car do what it is built to do, that is drive. Microsoft should not be downloading, spreadsheeting, word processing, viral marketing, anti-virusing and system crashing when you pick your kids up from school or take a drive. Driving is a haven from marketing crap. Why put it inside the car? Well in this case, Ford is using the system. It might be the only thing useful in their car.
I don’t need coffe, but I’ll take the version that gives the driver a “happy ending”.
Ditto No Name. I’ll stick with my el cheapo GPS.
haha, GPS..what a joke
use old-school directories and you will b fine…even though i havnt used one in yonks… men have inbuilt gps anyway..so whats the use of this contraption
If they gave me free car with the service than I would consider to put up with annoyance :-)
You get fined for talking on your mobile while driving,yet you can still keep your eyes on the road.watching ads while driving,this is a joke.
More crap in the car to distract already useless “drivers” – just what we need!