Ford Motor Company has announced a round of updates to itsSYNC technology that promotes safer alternatives to texting while driving.

New MyFord Touch-equipped cars will let drivers block incoming calls and texts with a “Do Not Disturb” button, but the biggest addition is support for a new protocol (MAP) that will allow SYNC to read aloud incoming text messages over Bluetooth.

Future BlackBerry owners will be the first to benefit as RIM is working with Ford to make audible text messaging via SYNC possible. RIM has agreed to implement the Bluetooth standard MAP — Message Access Profile — on new BlackBerry devices moving forward. BlackBerry MAP integration will create an enhanced connection between the smartphone and the SYNC system so that it can read aloud incoming text messages.

Ford’s Bluetooth MAP support means that other mobile device manufacturers can implement MAP to take advantage of the audible text messaging functionality of SYNC. Ford hopes that the hands-free bonuses will encourage other manufactures to adopt the standard as well.

The new version of SYNC — available on 2011 models with MyFord Touch — will also include a “Do Not Disturb” button that will give drivers the ability to block incoming texts and calls, but still make outgoing calls.

[via Mashable]