GM follows Ford, brings Google Maps to OnStar eNav systems
Monkey see, monkey do -- right? All jesting aside, you can't help but chuckle over the timing here. Merely 24 hours after Ford announced that a Send to SYNC feature would allow motorists to beam Google Maps directions over Bluetooth to existing SYNC navigation systems, in flies General Motors with an eerily similar release. Granted, we learned last month that Google and GM would be working together on some rather special endeavors, but bringing the wonders of GMaps home to an otherwise ho hum routing system is particularly laudable. In fact, we may argue that GM's implementation has the edge, as the OnStar eNav feature will allow Google Maps to be sent to vehicle models as far back as 2006 (for spoken turn-by-turn guidance), while those with fresher systems will be able to have routes sent directly to their NAV screens via integration with OnStar Destination Download. Talk about a surefire way to keep people hooked on that OnStar subscription, eh?
[Thanks, JL]
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OnStar, Google Partner to Expand Turn-by-Turn Navigation
Subscribers Can Load Google Maps at Home and View via OnStar eNav
2010-06-08
Detroit - OnStar and Google have reached an agreement that will let OnStar users search for and identify destinations using Google Maps and send those destinations to the Turn-by-Turn Navigation Service in their vehicles.
OnStar eNav, a feature of Turn-by-Turn Navigation, will become available through Google Maps at the end of this month. Drivers can access the destinations whenever they choose and get OnStar Turn-by-Turn directions to the destination from wherever they are.
Turn-by-Turn Navigation is the most widely available built-in navigation system in the automotive market today.
"eNav is a perfect solution for subscribers who like the flexibility of being able to use Google Maps to plan their trips in advance, but without the hassle of bringing printed maps into the vehicle," said Nick Pudar, OnStar vice president of new business development.
"The eNav feature of our Turn-by-Turn service allows drivers to keep their eyes, hands and minds where they need to be – on the road," Pudar said. "And if they ever need help on the road, they can always just push the Blue OnStar Button to speak to a live advisor."
The Google Maps option will be available on all current Turn-by-Turn capable GM vehicles starting with the 2006 model year and also will integrate with OnStar Destination Download to send destinations directly to the vehicle's screen-based navigation system.
This follows last month's announcement in which OnStar and Google demonstrated mobile mapping and location functions for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle that leverage the Google Android platform.
For the 2011 model year, OnStar Directions and Connections service is standard on all OnStar-equipped, GM retail vehicles. General Motors is the only auto manufacturer to offer navigation standard across all price points and all vehicle segments. Since launch, OnStar has delivered more than 54 million Turn-by-Turn Navigation routes, currently averaging more than 1.4 million per month.
OnStar, the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services, also announced today that it has been honored with the Best Use of Telemetric Technology in the Public Sector award at the Telemetric Update conference in Detroit.
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About General Motors
General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 205, 000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.
About OnStar
OnStar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services. OnStar is available on more than 30 MY 2010 GM models. OnStar is standard for one year on nearly all new GM retail vehicles in the United States and Canada. OnStar provides services to more than 5.5 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. Shanghai OnStar Telematics Co. Ltd., a joint venture between OnStar, LLC, Shanghai Automotive Industry Sales Co., Ltd. and Shanghai General Motors, provides services in China. More information about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com. OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a recipient of the 2010 Edison Award for Best New Product in the technology category.
