Focus transformed to a rolling WiFi hotspot

FORD will herald a new era of in-car technology next year as thelatest Focus is transformed into a rolling WiFi hotspot.

It comes courtesy of something called Ford SYNC with MyFordTouch, and Focus owners will be the first in the UK to benefit fromit.

By using the car owners' existing USB modem or smartphone, theSYNC-equipped Focus will be able to deliver a secure wirelessconnection that can be broadcast throughout the vehicle.

Passengers with any WiFi-enabled device can then easily connectto the internet with a level of access that was until recently onlyavailable to people with considerably more expensive vehicles.

"Ford is an automaker that is quickly becoming a personaltechnology company as well," says Christof Kellerwessel, chiefengineer for electronic and electrical systems. "We're finding thatFord customers are tech savvy and - while travelling as passengersin cars - they want to be able to use their WiFi enabled deviceswhile on the move."

Ford says one of the main advantages of the SYNC set-up is thatit will allow people to make use of a variety of USB devices,eliminating the need to buy specifically compatible equipment.

And software updates will be used to ensure SYNC remainscompatible with the latest hardware and devices. When it arrives onthe Focus in 2012, the factory-installed system will integrate thehardware into the vehicle, unlike internet connection systems fromsome manufacturers that require a bolt-in receiver and transmitter.

There will be the ability to provide a secure WiFi connection forup to five devices, there's no subscription fee and when SYNC sees anew WiFi device for the first time, the driver must specificallyallow that device to connect, preventing unauthorised users from"piggybacking" the signal.