In 1995, three companies, GM, EDS, and Hughes Electronics, created a partnership that gave birth to a new generation of telematic services, called OnStar. Yes, we know what you are thinking ... tele-what? Telematics. It's the science of sending, receiving, and storing information by means of telecommunication devices. More specifically, OnStar's telematics pertain to the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology incorporating computers and wireless communications technology in vehicles. OnStar is a subscription-based program that is only available on General Motors' vehicles, and it has been well received by its current 5 million subscribers.
OnStar offers three service plans. The Safe & Sound service plan offers real-time response, which includes accident assistance, an airbag-deployment response, various emergency services, roadside assistance, a remote-door unlock, a GM Goodwrench remote diagnostic, stolen-vehicle location assistance, and remote horn and lights for locating your vehicle. On the informational side, OnStar offers a Directions & Connections plan that provides information and convenience services, which is a concierge to help customers select a restaurant as one of the options, a RideAssist, and driving directions. The last of the plans is the OnStar hands-free calling, which is available on '01 or-later OnStar-equipped vehicles.
We were delivered a fully loaded '07 GMC Acadia press vehicle for the purpose of experiencing what OnStar is all about. We did not read any instructions before jumping in and trying out the OnStar features; we simply pushed the blue button on the rearview mirror and waited. It beeped once, started ringing, then a voice answered with a pleasant, "OnStar, this is Jessica. How may I assist you?" We requested directions by giving her a hotel name and the city it was located in, and she asked if I was aware that my vehicle had a navigation unit. Of course we did, and we let her know that we were testing OnStar, so she repeated the location with the exact address. The advisor informed me that she would download the directions to the vehicle and the call ended. As we continued to drive, a computer voice guided me with turn-by-turn instructions along with arrows that signaled left or right turns, and street names that displayed on the LCD located above the digital gear indicator on the instrument panel. If you have music playing before the call to OnStar, the system automatically mutes the audio, then restores it to its previous volume once the call ends. The sound mutes again and the A/C fan switches to a slower speed after the directions are downloaded to the vehicle so that you can hear the turn-by-turn directions. We expected the music to mute, but the fan was a cool surprise.
My second test of OnStar was to find a gas station while we were running on empty. After pushing the blue OnStar button, we heard a beep and a telephone ring. The call was answered in less than 20 seconds. A pleasant advisor asked how she could assist us. We requested the closest gas station, and she responded, "I have you in Queen Creek. Is that correct?" we replied, "Yes," and she instructed that the closest gas station was in Higley, which is located 3 miles away. The advisor asked if we would like the turn-by-turn instructions downloaded to the vehicle, and we assented.