Ford will no longer use Microsoft Corp.’s Windows for Sync, instead basing the system on QNX, according to people briefed on the matter.
Using QNX will be less expensive than licensing Microsoft technology and will improve the flexibility and speed of the next Sync system, the people, who asked not to be identified because the decision hasn’t been made public, said Feb. 22.
BlackBerry shares jumped 7.6 percent, or 69 cents, to close at $9.83 in Nasdaq trading Monday. Ford shares gained 2 cents to close at $15.18 in New York Stock Exchange trading, and Microsoft shares slid 29 cents to close at $37.69 in Nasdaq trading Monday.
Ford’s decision highlights the value of QNX for BlackBerry, the smartphone maker that lost 95 percent of its value from mid-2008 to November and saw the collapse of a proposed $4.7 billion buyout. Ford has more than 7 million vehicles on the road with Sync using Microsoft voice-activated software to make mobile-phone calls and play music.
BlackBerry’s QNX Software Systems can be found in cars made by Audi and BMW, according to its Web site. QNX and Microsoft are the main suppliers of automotive operating system software, according to researcher IHS iSuppli.
