Ford to Debut Pickup With Mobile Office

AP via myway.com ^ | Oct 31, 2005 9:38 PM (ET) | DEE-ANN DURBIN

[Bratch]

DETROIT (AP) - Ford Motor Co. (F) says it will soon offer wireless mobile offices in its F-series pickups, an option aimed at building contractors and others who do business on the road.

A Ford F-250 Super Duty truck equipped with a mobile office is scheduled to debut Tuesday at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas. The annual show isn't open to the public, but it dazzles an estimated 100,000 automotive insiders with souped-up vehicles and the latest aftermarket trends and components.

Ford expects to offer the mobile office as a dealer-installed accessory in 2006. Pricing isn't finalized, but it would cost around $3,000 for a wireless-equipped computer, printer and global positioning system, Ford spokesman Alan Hall said. Add-ons like a digital camera and credit card scanner also would be available.

The system uses a flat Stargate Mobile computer, powered by the truck's battery and mounted on a stand between the driver's seat and passenger seat. The computer has a touch-screen option - eliminating the need for a keyboard or mouse - and is designed to be removed from the stand and taken to a work site. It stays connected to the Internet via a broadband wireless cellular card and even has a screen that is visible in direct sunlight.

[Bratch]

A printer that is part of a Stargate Mobile computer, that will be
offered as a dealer installed option in Ford F-Series vehicles, is
shown at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las
Vegas, Monday, Oct. 31, 2005. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)


Stargate Mobile will offer a dealer installed PC for Ford F-Series
vehicles like the one shown here at the SEMA aftermarket auto
show in Las Vegas on Monday, Oct. 31, 2005. The system which
can be run with voice commands through the car's stereo can be
outfitted with wireless internet, a magnetic POS credit card reader
and printer. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)


Stargate Mobile will offer a dealer-installed personal computer for
Ford F-Series vehicles like the one shown here at the SEMA
aftermarket auto show in Las Vegas on Monday, Oct. 31, 2005.
The system, which can be run with voice commands through the
car's stereo, can be equipted with wireless Internet, a magnetic
POS credit card reader and printer. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

[Fierce Allegiance]

It still won't have enough power ports, I'll bet.

Kinda neat, but the computer will be obsolete in 2 years. If it were a chevy, no biggie, just throw away the truck, but its' a Ford, so it will last a hell of a lot longer than the computer will be worth keeping.

[adamsjas]

Another toy to kill people by distracting drivers.

[garandgal]

This is awesome...although I wish it wasn't a truck. I have driven Explorers for my job for the last 10 years (need it to haul samples).

I traded the last one with 199,998 miles on it; paid $500 in repairs in the four years I had it.

One thing that I would like to see in all cars as an option (for those of us who travel) is a live weather radar screen on the dash.

I frequently call my sister to give me live weather updates via her computer...and I've avoided driving through much bad weather by taking alternate routes, etc. It would be great to be able to click it on to see the direction and speed of approaching storms.

[tubebender]

Now Now Now. There are a lot more 50s Chevy pickups on the road than 50s Fords. The only bad years were the 60s and every one had problems with the sheet metal because they changed the grade of the steel to save the stamping dies.

My son is at the SEMA show this week. It is so big you can't see it all in a few days. You have to preplan what you want to see that is important to you...

[jordan8]

The Simpsons did it.

[Republic of Texas]

Another toy to kill people by distracting drivers.

Next they'll have an Excursion with a beauty parlor in it. How about an Explorer with a Cappuccino machine?

[goodnesswins]

HA....after today, my husband says...."we're NEVER buying another Ford." ($1000 bill for cleaning injectors and replacing spark plugs, etc. on 2001 F150 Crew at 90K miles). Do you know where they put spark plugs on a F150 truck? Where YOU cannot reach them.

[adamsjas]

Next they'll have an Excursion with a beauty parlor in it. How about an Explorer with a Cappuccino machine?

Just face the seat backward and end all pretense of having drivers actually pay attention.

The first one of these that gets in an accident in which someone is killed is going to cost the Ford a years worth of profits.

[Republic of Texas]

I don't believe vehicles kill people, but at some point we all need to remember to drive.

[adamsjas]

I don't believe vehicles kill people, but at some point we all need to remember to drive.

Well in some cases, it Must be the Vehicle, you can hardly blame the driver, they were just along for the ride.

[Fierce Allegiance]

There is a reason 10 of the top 10 construction companies buy ford light trucks exclusively. I think it's approx 75 of the top 100 constuction companies, too. The f150 has been the best selling light truck for close to 3 decades.

Truck allegiances are like opinions, and you know what they say about opinions!

The megashows are tough to see everything.

[Nik Naym]

Oh Please.

You DID have the radio removed from your car, right? After all, we don't want any distractions.

Don't you think that the computer is intended to be used while stopped? I wouldn't be surprised if it is set up so that it can not be used while under way.

There is a real need for this type of thing. Think of the guy who does emergency road/tire service. Or landscaping, or winter plowing, or on site repairs and installations of all kinds. Now all he needs to do is process your credit card on the spot, give you your receipt, and he's off to the next job.

Some of us make our living on the road. Cell phones, computers, GPS navigation, etc. are not TOYS they are TOOLS.

[MHT]

No kidding. To think that some states were going to ban anything but voice-controlled phones--now THIS?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Looks like the latte-sipping, VW Beetle driving, worry-wart FReepers showed up already eh? LOL

[Republic of Texas]

It's not crazy to predict that some idiot will sue Ford after having a wreck while sending in their weekly report. But there was a time when it would be crazy to think that person would win. No more I'm afraid.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Kinda neat, but the computer will be obsolete in 2 years.

Depends on what type of work it's doing. Lots of computers from the 90s are still in use, especially in the automotive repair industry. I know when I worked for Schneider Trucking (Logistics) they were still using Windows 95 on old Compaq Presario computers.

Or are you one of those people who upgrade whenever a new computer or computer chip comes on the market. If so, then it doesn't make any sense to even buy a computer if you're going to worry about it being obsolete within months.

[martin_fierro]

WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[cajun-jack]

and Schneider trucks run just as slow as their computers too!!!

big orange pumpkins holding up traffic somewhere near you!!

[durasell]

This is outrageous! This high tech geegaw is taking up valuable cuo holder space!