Instead of driving your truck to the office, Ford will soon make it possible
to bring the office to your truck.
Ford will partner with Microsoft and Stargate Mobile to begin offering mobile
technology hardware as a dealer-installed accessory for F-Series trucks starting
in 2006.
"F-Series is all about getting the job done," said Marty Collins, Ford Division
general marketing manager. "This new mobile office technology will fit our truck
owners' needs to be on the go as their business demands."
The Ford mobile office system will include a GPS-enabled hand-held computer with
a touch-screen that is mounted on the transmission tunnel and powered by the
truck's battery. The computer is lightweight and portable but built tough to
withstand the rigor of a typical job site. A special console will be available
for optional accessories such as a printer, digital camera and credit card
scanner.
"The computer is designed to replace either a laptop or desktop that you have at
the office," said Steve Weiner, Super Duty Assistant Marketing Manager. "It's
internet-connected through a broadband wireless card, so the driver has full
access to all his Microsoft Office needs through the Windows XP operating
system, including Outlook for e-mail, Streets and Tips for navigation and
Explorer for web browsing."
A "General Contractor"-themed F-250 Super Duty will showcase the Ford Mobile
Office technology at SEMA. The truck was created by California Custom Sports
Trucks of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
"In addition to the Mobile Office, the SEMA truck features an array of
modifications that would make heading to work in the morning a dream to look
forward to," said Weiner. "Besides the Fabtech 6-inch suspension lift kit and
aggressive Weld Wheels with BF Goodrich tires, there is a traveling shop full of
equipment that every contractor needs to get the job done housed inside the
pickup bed of the truck."
While the SEMA truck was designed with contractors in mind, Weiner says the
mobile office technology would be invaluable to people from a wide array of
businesses.
"It could be a plumber or a cable installer – anybody who's out on the road and
needs to be in touch with their office and interact with customers," he said.
"You can log onto the computer from your house in the morning and plug your
route into the GPS. When you get to a customer's house, you can take a credit
card payment and print out a receipt. If you're on a job site and you need to
access information from your corporate office, you can log in and do that too."
The Ford Mobile Office will be offered as a dealer-installed accessory through
the "Genuine Ford Accessories" program beginning in 2006. Ford is investigating
making it an F-150 production option beyond that.
Said Collins, "With the Ford Mobile Office, you don't have to be tied to your
desk. You don't even need a desk."
