Bloomberg: Ford To Drop Windows For BlackBerry's QNX In Sync System

(RTTNews) - Automaker Ford Motor Co. (F) would base the next-generation Sync system on BlackBerry Ltd.'s (BBRY, BB.TO) QNX and would not use Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows, Bloomberg reported, quoting people briefed on the matter.

Using QNX will be cheaper than licensing Microsoft technology. It will also improve the flexibility and speed of the next Sync system, the report added.

Ford has over 7 million vehicles with Sync using Microsoft voice-activated software to make mobile phone calls and play music.

The company slumped in surveys conducted by J.D. Power & Associates and Consumer Reports, where customers cited malfunctioning tech systems and touch screens.

As people increasingly want to be connected all the time, improving Sync has become important for Ford to draw customers.

F closed up 0.7 percent on Friday at $ 15.16.