DETROIT and MINNEAPOLIS, July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- OnStar FMV, the first out-of-the-box application of OnStar's "blue button" automotive safety and security services that can work on 90 million older vehicles, goes on sale July 24 and can be preordered at Best Buy stores nationwide.
Packing OnStar's industry leading technology into a rearview mirror, OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle) sells for $299.99, plus $75 for installation. Service plans for OnStar FMV start at $18.95 a month, or $199 a year.
"The wait is over," said OnStar President Linda Marshall. "Since we announced OnStar FMV at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, thousands of people have signed up to be notified when this innovative product is ready to buy. Now, through Best Buy, they can enhance their Fords, Toyotas, Chryslers and other brands with the power of OnStar."
As OnStar's strategic retail partner for OnStar FMV, Best Buy offers on-site installation through its network of more than 1,000 auto bays nationwide staffed by more than 1,400 Mobile Electronics Certified Professionals at Best Buy, including nearly half of the 194 MECP Master installers in the world. More than 90 percent of surveyed Best Buy customers said their auto installation was "done right the first time."
"Best Buy is always looking for ways to help consumers stay connected through technology in their everyday lives. This includes in their cars," said Lisa Farrell, senior vice president and general manager of portable electronics at Best Buy. "We are proud to be the first to bring the OnStar FMV product to consumers nationwide and serve as a one-stop destination for purchase and installation."
OnStar FMV provides the same core features as the OnStar service built into new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles from General Motors:
Automatic Crash Response, triggered by an accelerometer in the unit, connects the vehicle to a trained OnStar emergency advisor in the event of a crash. The advisor can provide the exact location of the crash to emergency responders using the mirror's GPS location, even if the vehicle's occupants are unable to respond.
Turn-by-Turn Navigation, OnStar's most-popular service with 1.9 million requests a month is accessible with a press of the blue button. The driver asks the advisor for directions for a specific address or location, such as a gas station or restaurant. Directions are downloaded to OnStar FMV, which provides spoken turn-by-turn instructions to the destination.
Hands-Free Calling is available through the OnStar service itself or through a Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone. An external microphone, which is tucked neatly into the roofline or above the overhead console, gives the best-possible voice quality while drivers keeps their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance uses OnStar FMV's global positioning satellite system to provide a stolen vehicle's location to law enforcement officials.
Emergency Services, summoned by pushing the red button, bring specially trained emergency advisors on the line immediately to help in a crisis, such as witnessing a collision or a crime in progress.
Roadside Assistance for non-emergency situations, such as a mechanical breakdown or a flat tire, is a blue-button push away.
Other retailers now offering or soon to offer OnStar FMV include Car Toys, Crutchfield, Fry's Electronics, Al & Ed's Autosound and P.C. Richard & Son.
Customers can find out if OnStar FMV is compatible with their vehicle through an online Vehicle Selector. More information is available through Best Buy or OnStar.com.
About OnStar
OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors (NYSE: GM), is the leading provider of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology. Currently available on more than 40 MY 2011 GM models, OnStar soon will be available for installation on most other vehicles already on the road through local electronics retailers, including Best Buy. The OnStar Mobile App is a recipient of the 2011 Edison Award for Best New Product in the Remote Driving Aids segment and OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a recipient of the 2010 Edison Award for Best New Product in the Technology segment. OnStar safely connects its more than six million subscribers, in the U.S., Canada and China, in ways never thought possible. More information about OnStar can be found at OnStar.com - onstar.com.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China and Mexico, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $50 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, Best Buy Mobile, The Carphone Warehouse, Five Star, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, Pacific Sales, and The Phone House. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way Best Buy does business. In fiscal 2011, the company donated approximately $25 million to improve the vitality of the communities where its employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit BBY.com.
Who in their "right" mind would buy this, and then have to pay to use it? It should be like Dish, or any cable network provider: they supply the hardware, and you sign an agreement to use it. So simple. There's one born every minute!
15022[/I]]Who in their "right" mind would buy this, and then have to pay to use it? It should be like Dish, or any cable network provider: they supply the hardware, and you sign an agreement to use it. So simple. There's one born every minute!
If you purchase a GM vehicle equipped with OnStar you still pay up to $299 per year? Did you think it is a free service for Factory installed units. Hell to keep our GPS equipped Nitros up-to-date they want $199 for the GPS mapping disc. Not sure why this is a bad deal myself. You pay extra for a GM new car with OnStar, and now you can add that same service to most used vehicles, too.
OnStar Connects Loved Ones No Matter Where They Roam
New Family Link pilot provides unique access to vehicle location
2011-08-01
Subscribers can go online to locate their vehicle or sign up for location alerts
Two phase, invitation-only pilot to run through the end of 2011
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – OnStar today announced it has launched a pilot for Family Link, a new optional service that will explore ways subscribers can stay connected to their loved ones when driving an OnStar-equipped vehicle.
OnStar is conducting the pilot program to gauge consumer interest. Pilot services will include:
Vehicle Locate: The subscriber can log on to the Family Link website to view a map with the vehicle's exact location at any time.
Vehicle Location Alert: Subscribers can set up email or text message notifications to let them know the location of their loved one's vehicle. They can choose the day, time and frequency of the alerts.
“Our subscribers have asked us for a solution to help them stay connected to their family when they’re on the road,” said OnStar President Linda Marshall. “What parent hasn’t asked their teenaged driver to call or send a text when they arrive somewhere, only to not hear from them? Family Link’s Vehicle Locate feature lets a parent check on their child’s progress or help determine when he/she might be home safe and sound.
“That means peace of mind for them and their loved ones while they're on the road.”
Participation in the OnStar Family Link pilot is by invitation only and will include approximately 10,000 active U.S. OnStar subscribers.
Access to the Family Link website requires an OnStar user name and password. Only the subscriber with access can locate a vehicle or send alerts.
To use Vehicle Locate, subscribers log onto the Family Link website and navigate to the Vehicles tab and click on Locate. Once the vehicle has been located, the vehicle's icon will be shown on the map. Additional location details can be seen by hovering over the vehicle.
To set up a Location Alert, subscribers log on to the Family Link website and navigate to the Alerts tab and click on Add Alert. The subscriber can request the day of week and time to receive an alert, as well as how they would like to be notified: via text, email or both. Location Alerts will include the address the vehicle is near as well as the date and time.
Future considerations for the pilot include Speed Alert, Boundary Alert and Arrival/Departure Alert. Subscriber interest and comments from the pilots will guide decisions for launch and pricing of this service.
OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology. Currently available on more than 40 MY 2011 GM models, OnStar soon will be available for installation on most other vehicles already on the road through local electronics retailers, including Best Buy. The OnStar Mobile App is a recipient of the 2011 Edison Award for Best New Product in the Remote Driving Aids segment and OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a recipient of the 2010 Edison Award for Best New Product in the Technology segment. OnStar safely connects its more than 6 million subscribers, in the U.S., Canada and China, in ways never thought possible. More information about OnStar can be found at OnStar.com - onstar.com.
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Rick
Nitro Year: 2007 (1 of 113,000 sold)
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State Farm Launches OnStar Competitor: In-Drive [UPDATED]
August 3rd, 2011
State Farm's In-Drive telematics system
It's no secret that car shoppers are smitten with technology, and nothing is hotter right now than the mix of navigation and concierge services known generally as "telematics". GM has made a bundle with OnStar, and now State Farm has partnered with Hughes Telematics to grab its own slice of the pie via a new service called In-Drive.
In-Drive offers features that should be familiar to users of OnStar, SYNC, and other services -- features like roadside assistance, emergency response, and stolen vehicle location. In-Drive also provides alerts and reminders about auto maintenance, like the kinds we've seen on many smartphone apps.
According to State Farm, In-Drive works via "an easy-to-install device that works in most vehicles made after 1995". There's also a free smartphone app that gives subscribers access to many of the features offered by the in-car system. The service is competitively priced -- free for the first six months (excluding a $10 activation fee), with subsequent monthly charges ranging from $5 to $14.99, depending on the package customers choose.
In-Drive also allows drivers to tap into State Farm's Drive Safe & Save Program. Drive Save & Save is fairly similar to Progressive's Snapshot program, which monitors drivers' habits like hard braking, acceleration, and so on. Drive safely, and customers can save on their insurance rates. Drive poorly, and, well, it's time to cut back on Starbucks.
Will In-Drive prove to be a viable competitor to OnStar? Only time will tell. But as technology becomes smaller and cheaper to produce, telematics outfits will see competition from all over -- not only from big guns like GM, Ford, and State Farm, but from smaller start-ups, too.
One major impediment to State Farm's new program may be that in order to use In-Drive, it appears that customers will have to sign up for Drive Safe & Save, too. Those who think such monitoring programs are too intrusive will likely opt for other telematics services.
In-Drive is rolling out in phases -- first in Illinois this September, with other states to follow in 2012. For additional information, visit www.in-drive.com/sf.
UPDATE: Kip Diggs from State Farm has confirmed that In-Drive is currently unavailable outside the Drive Safe & Save program -- meaning that if you want State Farm's telematics, you'll have to sign up for being monitored, too.
Yeah, I would never sign up for such a program as what SF has going. I'm a pretty safe driver but its just to Big Brother for me. Now, If I had kids...
Cy
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Variety is the spice of life...and I like it HOT!
'11 Shock Blackberry fully loaded
K&N CAI 63-1556, JS2 Chip, Mopar Cat-back, Silverstars, Full Synthetic Oil, K&N Oil Filter, Mopar splash gaurds, Mopar Rear Air Deflector, Bosch Platinum Fusion IR plugs, gas cap keyed to ignition, Extra chrome bling, Mopar Chrome shifter, Custom plate, Lockpick V4
OnStar has played eye-in-the-sky for police chasing down stolen GM vehicles about 58,000 times since the system was introduced. But last week it helped do something it's never done before — it rescued a woman's Chrysler. Yup, carjackers who don't read Jalopnik are going to be so confused.
The standalone OnStar FMV system — basically a replacement rearview mirror tucked full of GPS and communications gear — went on sale for non-GM consumers this year. So it was only a matter of time before they helped save a non-GM car. And oh, you better believe GM's touting the hell out of it.
For Jean Franklin of Gresham, Oregon it was only a matter of two days. She purchased one for her 2006 Chrysler 300 on December 16th. Her car was stolen on December 18th.
She quickly reported the theft to the police and the OnStar was activated. The unlucky suspect was in custody sixty-four minutes later.
Big Brother is now watching more than Chevys. Car thieves have now been warned.
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Aftermarket OnStar now available
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