Ford has been putting Sync on many of its cars and trucks for years now. the system offers hands free phone calls and a myriad of other features. Ford has announced a new feature that will debut with the 2011 Fiesta.

The new feature gives drivers voice control using Sync over certain apps on Android and Blackberry smartphones. The voice control will work on Pandora for instance allowing the driver to change channels on the app with their voice.

Ford’s next generation of Sync systems will have yet another useful feature. This time around it’s built-in Wi-Fi, turning your car into a rolling hotspot. You’ll be able to share a 3G connection with a driver-defined list of devices.

Of course you’ll need to use your own 3G card, which will plug into the Sync’s USB port. I’m sure other auto makers will offer Wi-Fi soon as well. Then we really will always be connected.

You have an iPod. You drive a vehicle which uses Ford’s new Sync media system. You want to connect the two. You probably in that case want the new Keyspan Sync Cable for iPod, priced at around $50.

The Keyspan Sync Cable for iPod works in conjunction with the Sync system found currently in 12 models of 2008 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models. The cable acts as a bridge between your iPod and Sync so that your player’s content can be displayed on the in-car entertainment screen. You can control the iPod through the Sync system while it charges at the same time.

Today Ford announced that they have teamed up with Microsoft to offer some in-car software to enhance the use of digital audio players, mobile phones and multimedia in their vehicles. Ford Sync will be powered by Microsoft Auto Software and provide voice activated communications and entertainment in select Ford vehicles.

Sync is planned to be available in 12 different Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles yet this year and will allow users to access their mobile phone, mobile music and will host almost any digital media player including the iPod and Zune, all from voice commands or from controls on the steering wheel. Integration will happen via either Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phones or a USB 2.0 port inside the vehicle to connect digital audio players and most media storage devices. The Microsoft Auto software will support …