Ford’s Blackberry Partnership Could Work…Even Though It Isn’t 2007
It’s no secret – people hate Ford SYNC and MyFord Touch. The Microsoft powered in-vehicle technology has never been able to get it right – labeled in automotive forums for years as too slow, too hard to use and just in general too shitty. It isn’t just some techy whiners in the bunch either, as Ford in-vehicle connectivity ranked 27th out of 33 brands in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey and it received its worst score ever from Consumer Reports just this year. So things aren’t getting better with time.
But there probably weren’t too many opinions changed when the cat got out of the bag that Ford was dumping the current Microsoft SYNC system for a new Blackberry platform. I can just imagine how many people laughed at the headlines. And why wouldn’t they? After all, the only people that still own a Blackberry are likely locked in some kind of five-year cell contract or are just too cheap to buy a new phone.
Fortunately for Ford and everyone that drives a Ford, it isn’t as bad as it seems. While Blackberry may be the company name being circulated, it’s really just that – a name. It is officially the Blackberry QNX division, with QNX being an independent entity that a Blackberry company acquired in 2010. So they are really only Blackberry in name – and they’ve recently been working on nuclear power technology. Now we’re talking!
While the thought of a tiny-keyed Blackberry interface on a vehicle is comical, that isn’t what is going to happen. In fact, the product that Blackberry’s QNX provides will likely be better than the current SNYC. But here’s to hoping the engineers shoot a little higher than “just being better than the SYNC.” That would be like making a hybrid car that is “just better than the Honda Insight.” Trying, but not trying very hard.
As for the entire MyFord Touch system, is hasn’t been announced if it will make the carryover. I say, scrap this as well. Since it came to be in 2008, the system has been a disappointment. It’s time for Ford to start fresh.
