Autoblog reports that Microsoft may be planning to bring advertising into your car.  The tech giant supplies the software behind Ford's SYNC in-car multimedia system, which won CNET's "coolest new car tech" award last year, and was called "the best $395 option of 2007" by the Detroit News (detailed in a Ford  press release published here on Autoblog).  Now, "Martin Thall, the General Manager of Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit, has suggested" that the company "may integrate advertisements into the infotainment system as opposed to charging subscription fees like General Motors does with its OnStar service." 

The Truth About Cars says that Microsoft believes that "because the driver is out of the house," he may be "more likely to follow through on [an] ad's suggestions."

Jalopnik adds, "Imagine driving down the street and having the navigation screen display an ad for Starbucks with some sort of special incentive for pulling in to get a latte, like offering you a free Mp3."