DEARBORN, MI – Ford added Operator Assist, a new free service that allows vehicle occupants to speak with a live person, as a standard feature of its SYNC Services. New customers eligible for a three-year complimentary SYNC Services account will receive 60 Operator Assist sessions.

Ford said there isn’t any kind of in-vehicle software upgrade required to gain access to the service. Live assistance and telematics company MyAssist provides the live operator services. The company is based in Stevens Point, Wis.

Operator Assist works with SYNC’s business search and directions options, according to Ford. At any time during a business search or directions interaction between the user and the SYNC Services automated system, the user can say, “Operator,” confirm his or her request to speak with one, and then connect to a live operator.

If the voice-recognition system can’t identify a request, the user will receive a prompt to speak with a live operator. The system will automatically connect the user if he or she confirms the request.

When a live operator assists with a business search, the user can choose to receive turn-by-turn directions to the business, receive a text message with name, address, and phone number information about the business, or be directly connected to the phone number of the business.

When a live operator assists with address entry, the user can have the directions sent directly to the vehicle. When the information is sent or the user is connected to a business, a “session” has been completed.

Customers with an active SYNC Services account receive a number of complimentary sessions depending on the remaining duration of their SYNC Services account:

• Less than a year remaining, 20 complimentary sessions

• Between one and two years remaining, 40 complimentary sessions

• Between two and three years remaining, 60 complimentary sessions

In addition, Ford launched a new website that shows SYNC’s benefits and features. The automaker said they built the website for users who are interested in learning more about what the technology offers, and for those who use it but want to learn more. You can visit the site at www.ford.com/sync.