OnStar Goes Standard

from the safety-first? dept

This was rumored last week when some folks "cracked" the mystery code in a new GM advertising campaign -- but now it's official: GM is going to make OnStar a standard feature in all vehicles to emphasize how safe their vehicles are. This is amusing in a few ways. First, GM used to have the reputation of being anything but safe. However, more interesting is the fact that OnStar was considered a failure during its first go around -- mainly because GM didn't focus on the safety aspects at all. Instead, they focused on the entertainment and information aspects. It was only once they focused on the safety side of things that people started to buy it. Of course, the more cynical out there may simply note that in offering OnStar "standard," all they need to do is raise their prices by the cost of OnStar and they've now forced everyone to buy this option. Either way, it is fairly common for once "luxury" features to trickle down into all cars eventually -- so this is just another one. Besides, even if OnStar is available, that's no guarantee that carbuyers will pay for the service. The article notes that 60% of car owners who have OnStar do pay for it after the complementary first year, but that number is likely to go down as many of these non-luxury buyers aren't willing to spend the extra cash. Still, by giving away the technology free, GM has a better chance of building an ongoing service revenue relationship with customers. The other big question, though, is how will OnStar work with mobile technologies? Folks in the wireless industry are trying to put telematics technology directly in the phone, rather than the dashboard. If they're smart, GM and OnStar will be open enough to integrate with mobile phones to make the service even more valuable, rather than just closing it off to try to "protect" their existing business.
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  • identicon
    TDavid, 31 Jan 2005 @ 6:10am

    No Subject Given

    OnStar integrates with Verizon Wireless already, so if you have a Verizon Wireless account you can share your minutes through OnStar. Much better than buying the OnStar's overpriced minutes. We have it and really like it. I've yet to hear from one OnStar customer that doesn't like it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 31 Jan 2005 @ 9:48am

    unpatriotic

    Well, that's another reason not to buy GM.

    Your country, with its diminishing civil liberties, should be a terrible place for the remotely-activated mic of the onstar system. The fact that you folks are buying it is, to me, saying something frightening about it all. Every animal farm needs its sheep, I guess.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    tc, 31 Jan 2005 @ 9:53am

    No Subject Given

    Acura now uses OnStar for their vehicles (MDX at least), so OnStar is not totally captive. As such, the "market" may force them to be more adaptive.

    And for coward: we don't need OnStar to know who you are and what you are doing. Shape up or watch out!

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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