Ford Motor Co said on Thursday that Sync, its in-car communication and entertainment system developed with Microsoft Corp, will cost $US395 ($A465.77) as an option when it debuts this fall on the Ford Focus, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX.

Sync, which will be on nine other 2008 Ford models by the end of the year, allows drivers, using either voice recognition or steering wheel controls, to listen to their digital music players and hear text messages on their cell phones read aloud.

Consumers provide their own digital players, such as Apple Inc's iPod or Microsoft's Zune.

Developers have said Sync is a platform on which they can build numerous services, such as safety and vehicle diagnostics.

They envision vehicles getting software "fixes" through wireless downloads that don't require communication with the owner, or giving drivers electronic manuals that let them ask their vehicle questions about performance or maintenance.

Source: [url=http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070812/BUSINESS/708120360/1003/BUSINESS]Indianapolis Star[/url]