I'm new to this OnStar world. Unless there is an accident, I can't imagine why I would use this?! If I lock my keys in the car....how can I call them?

I have the personal calling feature which sounds great BUT, still waiting for them to come up with a telephone number for me. (Last word is all the purchased numbers in my area were used so they need to buy more blocks...and they'll let me know) I call Verizon to see if I'd be able to add this phone to my America's Choice plan...but they tell me my new 2005 SRX has an analog system (not the newest digital/analog system available in other cars) so I can't ever do it. What's the deal? Why would Cadillac put in just analog system? Anyone have experience with this?

If you lose your keys, you just call an 800 number, give them your account/phone number and PIN and they will remotely open your doors. Some other features/uses include notification of air bag deployment, emergency services, roadside assistance, stolen-vehicle tracking, AccidentAssist, remote vehicle diagnostics, driving directions, concierge services and personal calling . For more information, see www.onstar.com.

As for the analog cellular service, it provides OnStar with the broadest range of coverage for the lowest cost for now. As the FCC's requirement for cellular providers to support their analog service along with their digital service will go bye-bye in a couple years, you are justifiably concerned that OnStar's communications hardware will be obsolete (and need to be replaced) at that time.

If I locked my keys out of my car I'm only required to remember their 800 phone number (if I have my cell or change for phone), my account number (???) and my PIN (think I know that). I think it will be easier to remember my keys!

I would love to be able to use the personal calling FOR my cell phone while in the car. The integration with the auto makes this so ideal....but because Verizon can't support it with America's Choice...it's a much more expensive option (when they can give me a number). I guess I'll still need to wear the hangs-free earpiece/mic system with my cell and turn down the radio....... maybe my next car!

I'm new to this OnStar world. Unless there is an accident, I can't imagine why I would use this?! If I lock my keys in the car....how can I call them?

I have the personal calling feature which sounds great BUT, still waiting for them to come up with a telephone number for me. (Last word is all the purchased numbers in my area were used so they need to buy more blocks...and they'll let me know) I call Verizon to see if I'd be able to add this phone to my America's Choice plan...but they tell me my new 2005 SRX has an analog system (not the newest digital/analog system available in other cars) so I can't ever do it. What's the deal? Why would Cadillac put in just analog system? Anyone have experience with this?

I don't think there is much benefit beyond the accident notification. That said, if you lock your keys in the car it is going to be a whole lot easier to find a phone than to have a locksmith come out or retrieve your spare set from your house.

The personal calling is just to expensive to use as a cell phone replacement for us. The new Verizon deal sounds really good but as you found out the catch is that GM stuck us with an outdated technology. Very shoddy to not have updated the system to digital on 05's (and 04's for that matter). Onstar told Sherry that there would be some mechanism for upgrading the analog to digital in the future but it is a ways off. I have seen other information that indicates there will not be an upgrade path.

We are most likely going to do some type of Bluetooth installation and will probably let the Onstar lapse after the free year. GM dropped the ball on this.

If I locked my keys out of my car I'm only required to remember their 800 phone number (if I have my cell or change for phone), my account number (???) and my PIN (think I know that). I think it will be easier to remember my keys!

I would love to be able to use the personal calling FOR my cell phone while in the car. The integration with the auto makes this so ideal....but because Verizon can't support it with America's Choice...it's a much more expensive option (when they can give me a number). I guess I'll still need to wear the hangs-free earpiece/mic system with my cell and turn down the radio....... maybe my next car!
As rcawood said, the remote unlock is a backup if you need it and MUCH better than waiting hours for AAA or a locksmith! So keep that phone number and your PIN in your wallet!

As for Verizon, I am not aware of any mobile service provider will sell you analog service only--this is something they want to drop, not sell! Despite your understandable consternation about OnStar's "outdated" equipment, providing vehicle-integration with each particular buyer's own, existing mobile phone service is just not feasible. Each carrier uses their own technology (iDEN, GPRS, GSM, etc.) and so there is no single technology that a vehicle manufacturer can deploy where OnStar would work everywhere and the customer can also integrate their own personal mobile phone service/plan. Oh wait, actually there is-it's analog service! Perhaps with Bluetooth, people can start integrating their own devices using this wireless standard, but this is a story for another day...

As rcawood said, the remote unlock is a backup if you need it and MUCH better than waiting hours for AAA or a locksmith! So keep that phone number and your PIN in your wallet!

As for Verizon, I am not aware of any mobile service provider will sell you analog service only--this is something they want to drop, not sell! Despite your understandable consternation about OnStar's "outdated" equipment, providing vehicle-integration with each particular buyer's own, existing mobile phone service is just not feasible. Each carrier uses their own technology (iDEN, GPRS, GSM, etc.) and so there is no single technology that a vehicle manufacturer can deploy where OnStar would work everywhere and the customer can also integrate their own personal mobile phone service/plan. Oh wait, actually there is-it's analog service! Perhaps with Bluetooth, people can start integrating their own devices using this wireless standard, but this is a story for another day...

Terpnut it sounds like you may not be familiar with the plan that Dripps is referencing. GM and Verizon have teamed up to provide an integrated phone solution where your minutes are shared called “America’s Choice with OnStar Plan”. Both phones are on the Verizon network. Of course you can only use this plan if your OnStar is capable of handling digital and analog which is OnStar Generation 6.

GM is installing Gen 6 in some automobiles, just not the SRX. OnStar says the gen 6 is available in “some 2004, most 2005 and all 2006 and newer OnStar-equipped vehicles” (this is a direct quote). Typical of GM - one of their most expensive (and newest) luxury automobiles is not included in “most 05’s”. For what OnStar costs I think GM should have gotten digital integrated sooner. Leaving people out in the cold as of 2008 (particularly if an upgrade is not available - which is sounds like it will not be in all cases) is unacceptable with such an expensive option. Particularly given that GM loves to bundle OnStar with other option packages and therefore you have no real choice in whether or not to purchase it on most GM vehicles.

Thanks for the clarification--I was not aware of the latest digital-capable OnStar.

Most people will not renew their OnStar after the first year so the lack of availability of a digitial system should not affect that many people.

I'll spare everyone my rant on my dislike of the OnStar concept (my previous vehicle had it as well) but since this thread is about using it as a regular cell phone, I'll comment on that:
1. The phone is a full-power analog phone which has the broadest coverage (this is the good part).
2. Since it lacks a keypad and does not recognize voice commands once a connection is made, it is useless for making many business-type calls that require a touch-tone response such as checking your voicemail. This renders it pretty useless for me as a phone.

Most people will not renew their OnStar after the first year so the lack of availability of a digitial system should not affect that many people.


I agree. I have not seen any stats and I don't think GM discloses them, but I bet the vast majority don't renew. However, the new digital capable system that integrates with a regular cell phone may change this. We would very possibly keep ours if we could use the America Choice Verizon plan. Sherry loves to make calls using OnStar. I do like the safety aspect of OnStar, but it is just too pricey for a service that will likely never be used (I see the real value as an accident where no one else is around to summon help).

I agree. I have not seen any stats and I don't think GM discloses them, but I bet the vast majority don't renew. However, the new digital capable system that integrates with a regular cell phone may change this. We would very possibly keep ours if we could use the America Choice Verizon plan. Sherry loves to make calls using OnStar. I do like the safety aspect of OnStar, but it is just too pricey for a service that will likely never be used (I see the real value as an accident where no one else is around to summon help).

I agree completely. Probably the only thing which would make me consider paying for OnStar after my year is up would be the personal calling feature--but since digital system wasn't included in our SRX we will be inclined to let this drop and use our cell phone. Now if someone could figure out how to tap into the system---check this out: http://www.uhltronics.com/

I agree completely. Probably the only thing which would make me consider paying for OnStar after my year is up would be the personal calling feature--but since digital system wasn't included in our SRX we will be inclined to let this drop and use our cell phone. Now if someone could figure out how to tap into the system---check this out: http://www.uhltronics.com/

Hmm, that is pretty interesting. I e-mailed them to see if they had any plans to make a similar interface for Cadillac vehicles. However, I'm not entirely sure how it works and what it does from the relatively brief description on the web site.

When my free year runs out... I'm done

Ditto. I'll be cancelling.

Although I've used it on a number of occations as a 411 (directory assistance) replacement. Considering that cell 411 runs a$1.25 and up it's worth the extra wait time - plus it's fun...it always impresses those that have not heard the ONStar people answer the call :) But I don't think it's worth the $200 a year - if the minutes were more affordable it might be easier to commit, anyways, the purchased minutes expire after x period of time depending on the plan - now that's BS!!

When you consider that Onstar is most likely only paying a wireless carrier for minutes when they are used, and then probably paying somewhere south of a nickel a minute based on volume, this is one heck of a high margin business!

The fact that they have our money up front at 25 to 47 cents per minute seems pretty close to theft that the minutes expire so quickly. I can understand from an accounting perspective that minutes not used in, let's say 24-36 months, would expire, but two months is ridiculous!

30 $9.99 2 Months
100 $29.99 2 Months
300 $89.99 2 Months
500 $139.99 2 Months
1,000 $249.99 2 Months

30 $13.99 12 Months
100 $39.99 12 Months
300 $114.99 12 Months
500 $174.99 12 Months
1,000 $299.99 12 Months

There is an alternative to the safe and sound plan, but I don't know the pricing... anyone know what ADT is going to charge? http://www.adt.com/resi/products_services/mobile_security_systems/mobilesafety/ ... by the way, it's a realtime GPS unlike Onstar.

Thanks:
JC

The OnStar Welcome center called today to make sure I didn't have any questions, etc. They offered me 100 minutes/12 months on personal calling for half price ($19.99) as special and I grabbed it. It was the only "special" offer but at least it cuts cost down a bit. The service is less than stellar since it's analog...plenty of cut outs, etc. but I love having an integrated phone!

For those of you who have Analog phones in your cars - don't despair. Here is your answer,,,,,

ALLTELL offers Analog service but only on a prepaid basis and at 40 cents a minute. There is no monthy charge IF you make one call per month -- and if you don't they will charge your account $4 for that month.

I set my account up with a $50 prepay - and then set it up with a credit card to automatically deduct $25 from my account whenever my account reserve balance reaches zero.

Compare these rates to Onstar -- which are a joke!

I am located in Phoenix AZ - but they probably offer similar plans all over the country.

For clarification: This is on a 2000 Cadillac Deville with a built-in cellphone that was incorporated into the cars audio system. It was actually a Motorola Flip-phone that was housed in the center arm console.

I am curious if the onstar system could also be connected to Alltell.

If you rarely use a cellphone -- the AllTell pay in advance plan is fantastic -- and analog phones sound much better than digital ones.

:coolgleam