Two of comedy’s biggest stars – separated by six thousand miles – have been brought together using Ford SYNC technology, as part of Ford of Britain’s Centenary Tour.
Comedians Jay Leno and Jimmy Carr took part in an unusual gig, live from the front seats of two Ford Focus, communicating across the Atlantic using Ford’s Wi-Fi-enabled SYNC system.
Leno was parked in Hollywood, with Carr outside the Corn Exchange in King’s Lynn, in Norfolk. “It’s great to do something that’s cutting edge, to chat about cars, gadgets and have a laugh,” said Carr, who leapt at the chance to get together with one of the kings of American stand-up.
Ford SYNC Wi-Fi capability uses an external USB broadband modem, plugged into the vehicle’s media system, effectively turning it into a rolling Wi-Fi hotspot. By broadcasting a secure wireless connection in the vehicle, SYNC allows up to five passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled devices to access the signal.
Leno and Carr used the signal to run Skype on their iPad 2, allowing them to video-call each other from across the Atlantic.
Jay Leno, said: “The one place we spend more time than anywhere except our house or office is the car. It’s not a surprise people want the same gadgetry on the road.”
Since the introduction of the Ford SYNC system in the Focus, Ford has installed the system on more than 3 million vehicles. The system is currently available on Ford vehicles in the US and scheduled to launch in the UK in 2012.