Link On-Star Phone to Verizon Wireless Account

I was going to link my OnStar phone with my Verizon phones, but I sat down and did some math. I calculated I use my car phone about 10 to 15 minutes per month. I don't like talking and driving so i keep it to a minimum.

Verizon want's $9.95 a month for the additional phone line or $119.40 per year. My 09 came with 30 free minutes and I found out aftre calling OnStar that I could buy 100 additional minutes for $14.95, but the nice thing about doing this is the 30 free minutes which are normally good for only TWO months get "rolled" into the total for the year. So for $14.95 I now have 130 minutes for the year.

When I run out of these minutes or my year is up then I'll have to consider my options, such as buy an aftermarket BlueStar kit and add Bluetooth to my car and drop OnStar all together, keep buying OnStar minutes or linking to my Verizon account.

It's good to have options.

Tom

thunderbyrd01 said:

This is very interesting guys. I wasnt aware this could be done. Does it only work with Verizon ? I have T-mobile. How excactly is this done ? TIA

Click to expand...

Currently this agreement only exixts between OnStar and Verizon. You can read about the plan here - http://solutions.vzwshop.com/onstar/

Just remember you need:

1. Active OnStar Plan ($18.95/month)
2. Additional Verizon phone line (9.95/month)

Since I already had a second phone line for my wife on a Family Plan, I would need to add a third line. If anyone called your existing cell phone number it wouldn't ring in the car, so you'd have to let everyone know to try calling the new # if you don't pick up on your regular cell #.

As I said I keep my multi-tasking in my car to a minumim and decided it was more cost effective for me to use the OnStar minutes. Plus you can negotiate better rates when the time comes to renew with OnStar. They like XM are looking to retain customers, the threat to cancel or stop their service is usually enough to find some un-published discount. I've been on the XM $77/year plan for 4 years now.

Good Luck

Tom

I bought a Tritton AXvisor BT speaker for the wife from Costco online. Search Costco's site for details on the Trittion AX. A little pricey compared to some. Voice dialing with her Motorola W755 works well. Susposedly it can pair up to 3 devices but we only have her phone setup.
I chose this model because if you get out of range and it disconnects some models takes a particular sequence to get the units repaired. This model detects vehicle movement and will pair automatically.
So far the only downside we've found is if you DON'T get out of range the units stays connect. Generally this happens when we are home and the SRX is too near where she leaves the phone. Turning off either the phone or the Tritton solves the problem. Battery life is good but it does need periodic recharging.
Any case another option to consider using existing phones.

I find it not worth it. You have to Pay for OnStar, then pay for either independent minutes or separate phone with Verizon - just way too expensive for what you get. I already have a cell phone - with AT&T. What GM should have done is installed Blue Tooth starting with the 05's in EVERY Car. But they were more interested in the kick back money they would get from OnStar and Verizon by selling expensive Cell Minutes. Hell - Hundai is putting Bluetooth and IPod Hookups in their cars now - - but NOT Cadillac!



I have a Garmin Nuvi 660, which acts as a remote bluetooth hands free transceiver for my cell. it works GREAT. It syncs up when I start the car, and disconnects when I shut the car down.

When my Free Introductory Onstar setup is done, I most likely will be ripping the OnStar out and replacing it with one of the aftermarket bluetooth kits available.