UPDATE: Ford To Partner With Best Buy To Offer Sync Assistance

Ford Motor Co. (F) is partnering with electronics retailer Best Buy Co. (BBY) to help Ford owners purchase cell phones that better fit with their Sync voice-activation system.

Best Buy will keep a list of cell phones that are the most compatible with the Sync system for consumers who want to pair the two technologies together. Sync, an in-vehicle system co-developed with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), allows drivers to change radio stations and answer telephone calls through voice activation.

Ford is also considering expanding clinics at Best Buy locations to demonstrate how the cell phone and Sync can be linked together, said John Felice, general manager of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury marketing.

The move continues Ford's push over the past two years to promote the technology aspects of its vehicles as it looks to attract younger consumers. Chief Executive Alan Mulally will provide a keynote address - for the second straight year - at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next year.

Sync currently allow users to access phone calls, browse their MP3 devices, call 911 and get traffic information or directions.

-By Jeff Bennett; Dow Jones Newswires; [e-mail]; 248-204-5542