Microsoft wants the Sync system to offer more to its consumers. Martin Thall, the General Manager of Microsoft’s Automotive Business Unit, said that five years from now the system will be able to provide real-time updates on local services and gas prices – something other Sat-Nav infotainment providers are already doing.
But, as Thall pointed out, this type of infotainment system is expensive – both for the manufacturer and the consumer. So, to curb the system’s cost and keep it subscription free, the system may, in the future, display advertisements and/or incentives aimed toward bringing consumers to stop by local stores. An example may be Starbucks offering a free MP3 downloaded directly to your car if you stop in and purchase a latte.
(More details after the jump)
Thall told CNet that normal Web advertising is measured in the fraction of a penny, but because the consumer is already out of the house and in route, in-car advertising could be measured in dollars. While, this is the opposite of what consumers would want, it may have a favorable outcome; standard Sat-Nav systems in every car at no extra charge to the consumer. But, maybe, that’s just a pipedream.
Thall also said that when Ford’s exclusive rights to the Sync system expire in November, other automakers will, likely, utilize the system.
+ CNET: Microsoft looks toward in-car advertising
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Ooooh, come on, let’s not go there. I would think that simply publishing those services and gas prices would come close enough to advertising to make some revenue. But I’d rather opt out of that publishing and not have to have in-car ads.
At first I had a “great, more intrusive technology that I don’t need in a car” moment.
Upon further thought, isn’t this pretty much the same as turning the radio on and hearing an advertisement? A music publisher for a rock group will reach a target audience for a new album by advertising on a rock station. A theater trying to sell tickets to the opening of a new play will buy ad time on a classical music or news radio station. A promoter for this Sunday’s monster truck pull will likely buy ad time on a country station.
What Microsoft is developing is just a form of super-targeted advertising. Radio has been providing in-car ads for decades already.
Yeah, but I don’t listen to radio (hardly at all), in part because I don’t like ads getting in the way of what I want to hear. And for Sync, you’d be more likely to get them in a visual format, which means a visual distraction, especially if you’re getting into video or imagery other than a simple corporate logo.
I wonder if they will offer a pop-up blocker that is active when the car is in gear or moving.
At least with the radio, I can change the station and keep on listening to music. If they do put ads on it to bother me all day, I guarantee no car with this crap will parked in my driveway.
This would be as or more distracting then holding the cell phone to your ear while driving
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