Bursting with optimism over products they hope will reverse slumping revenues, thousands of exhibitors and presenters gathered in Las Vegas Thursday for the keynote addresses opening the Consumer Electronics Show. The stars of the show were Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Mulally presented a view into the car of the near future, with interactive dashboards that will not only feature enhanced navigation and satellite radio, but also web surfing and downloading. The browser is only enabled, however, when the car is in park.
Recognizing a growing demand for products that allow greater personalization, Mulally introduced a team of Ford executives who discussed and demonstrated the company’s commitment to bringing drivers’ “digital lives” into their cars.
“The best bet is to develop products that are versatile and easy to personalize,” said Mulally, according to media reports. “By modeling ourselves after the consumer electronics industry, the Ford team has learned it has better results.”
Ford has entered into partnerships with Microsoft and Sony for its in-car computing. Microsoft produced the FordSync entertainment and communication system. Ford now boasts that it is the first car company to have an equivalent to Apple’s App Store.
The MyTouch control system, available in the 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX and the 2012 Ford Focus, will greet the driver by name and remember all settings and preferences. In an exclusive agreement with MapQuest, FordSync will also be able to receive maps and directions from the web site.
Microsoft opened with a preview of its virtual arcade, soon to be available on Xbox Live and Windows Live. The preview promised that users will be able to “relive the classics in their original form.” The Game Room can be downloaded for free, with games costing $3 to $5, or 50 cents per play. The offerings include Asteroids Deluxe, Combat…