With all the gloom in the global economy, I got to wondering whether there is anything else going on in the world of business. I'm looking for growth because I think that's what will ultimately bring the economy out of the doldrums. Not surprisingly, that growth is coming from technology companies. In Growth Matters, I look at consumer technology companies that point the way to growth trends -- and in the process introduce services and products you may want to explore.

In the early 1970s, Ford Motor (NYSE: F) had a great slogan: "Ford brings you better ideas." Although the auto industry is driving in reverse these days, Ford is the only U.S. auto maker yet to take government money. It may need to do so eventually, but for now Ford is getting by. And one of its better ideas is Ford SYNC, which Charlotte Fisher, Ford's Global Design and Technology Communications spokesperson, described to me as "a voice-activated, in-car communications technology that lets Ford customers play music, call friends, or receive text messages, without ever taking a hand off the wheel."

In the words of one reviewer, "it's hard to hide the disappointment" with the new 2008 Focus from Ford Motor (NYSE: F). While the car is "serviceable," it lacks the pizazz of the new compact cars from Honda, Mazda and Volvo. This is particularly annoying since Ford owns Volvo and has a stake in Mazda.

To make matters worse, there is a new Focus made by Ford in Europe which is earning rave reviews. But the American version of the car will not use the more advanced platform of the European model. It's the same old story: American consumers get the boring version of Detroit's global efforts. In this case, they even have to put up with cheesy fake air vents glued to the fender.

The good news is that Ford's new Sync electronics system is getting lots of positive reviews. As our own Brian White noted (Mr. Softy climbs in with Ford), Sync was developed with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) and allows drivers to use their MP3 players and cell phones in the car with voice-activated software. The reviewer at The New York Times thinks it's a great system, going so far as to say that it is far better than BMW's iDrive. Our pals at AutoBlog agree, and they claim that Sync is actually helping Ford sell more cars. So even though the car itself may be dull, at least you'll have a cool computer system to keep you from noticing too much.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, Ford (NYSE:F) will soon be introducing a Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) wireless system called Sync, which will allow drivers to talk on their cell-phones hands-free, along with the ability to check email and download music. The system will debut next year as an option on two Ford models, and the plan is for it eventually to be available as an option on all Ford cars.

With Ford set to report an enormous fourth quarter loss and not expecting profitability until 2009, it is good to see that they are focused on making their cars popular again. Outclassed by many foreign car makers, American car makers have been losing market-share for years.

Maybe they are about to do something for the first time in a long time: build cars with better technology than Japan does.