Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Gee, thanks, GM! - Onstar analog to go silent
Saw this item in the New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/automobiles/19ONSTAR.html
As of the beginning of the year Verizon Wireless, the provider of the Onstar signal will shut off their analog network. GM knew this as far back as 2002 yet for two years continued to build cars with analog Onstar.
"OnStar declined to make an executive available for this article, but in a statement said, “We at OnStar sincerely regret that we will not be able to provide OnStar service to vehicles with analog-only hardware after Dec. 31, 2007.” When asked why it continued to install equipment that could not be upgraded even after the F.C.C. ruling, the company said that 'each vehicle has its own development and manufacturing schedule, not all vehicles will receive the same OnStar equipment at the same time.'"
Nice....
"Dealers will upgrade some 2002-4 vehicles to work on digital networks if customers buy a three-year subscription to the Safe and Sound package at $199 a year."
Swell.
"The company would not say how many of its subscribers have analog-only or upgradeable equipment. But as many as half of OnStar’s customers, or two million subscribers, now drive cars that cannot be upgraded, according to Frank Viquez, an industry analyst at ABI Research."
Now remind me again why GM is having problems with market share. Onstar is one of the few services that might entice me to look at a GM vehicle these days. Seeing how they look out for their customers probably tossed that thought away.
As of the beginning of the year Verizon Wireless, the provider of the Onstar signal will shut off their analog network. GM knew this as far back as 2002 yet for two years continued to build cars with analog Onstar.
"OnStar declined to make an executive available for this article, but in a statement said, “We at OnStar sincerely regret that we will not be able to provide OnStar service to vehicles with analog-only hardware after Dec. 31, 2007.” When asked why it continued to install equipment that could not be upgraded even after the F.C.C. ruling, the company said that 'each vehicle has its own development and manufacturing schedule, not all vehicles will receive the same OnStar equipment at the same time.'"
Nice....
"Dealers will upgrade some 2002-4 vehicles to work on digital networks if customers buy a three-year subscription to the Safe and Sound package at $199 a year."
Swell.
"The company would not say how many of its subscribers have analog-only or upgradeable equipment. But as many as half of OnStar’s customers, or two million subscribers, now drive cars that cannot be upgraded, according to Frank Viquez, an industry analyst at ABI Research."
Now remind me again why GM is having problems with market share. Onstar is one of the few services that might entice me to look at a GM vehicle these days. Seeing how they look out for their customers probably tossed that thought away.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Tagged:
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Rocky
I would be very happy to have Onstar. Was just waiting for them to put out a product that both met my needs and seemed appealing. Still waiting, though I'll admit that things like the G6 hardtop convertible are getting closer. Now I'm back into the I'm not sure I can rely on them track.
Rocky
Also, analog does provide better service coverage in areas without good cell tower abundance (rural area and a lot of the West). Of course, this is more of a carrier issue.
Too bad they didn't think to make OnStar better. My in-laws would have kept the service after the free year had there been a phone touchpad in the car. They complained the voice system would not dial because it could not understand their slightly NE accent.
I suppose the typical demographics of an OnStar customer shows they get a new car every 2-4 years and hence it is not a big issue to GM.
-mike
The vehicles equipped with Onstar digital with have a much decreased range. To me the whole reason for Onstar is if you have a problem in a remote area. Your digital Onstar will not work anyway. Isn't progress grand????
-mike
PS
I have a salesman friend that has kept up the service on his old vehicle mount analog phone because it is the only service that works going out across the desert. He will be shot down also. Blame the FCC, Verizon and Cingular. They pushed for this and the FCC buckled to big money pressure. The Cellular system I installed in Prudhoe Bay Alaska will probably stay online. I think they are getting an emergency extension. Digital has such a limited range that it is impossible to cover the area without analog. Bandwidth is not an issue in the Arctic. Over 50% of the customer base are using analog vehicle mount phones.
I guess the customer service is atrocious and the signal is poor (He is on Cape Cod) to boot. Doesn't sound like something I'd waste my money on... :sick:
-mike
I don't know about Cape Cod. I can tell you the Cell service in San Diego is anything but great. As long as you are in the line of sight of a tower it is fine. That is unless there is heavy usage. Then you get cut off. I think this whole thread is blaming the wrong entity. Tell me one Cellular company that will upgrade your analog phone for free, when the cells get shut down.
-mike
-mike
Oh no, more people that will end up working McJobs or become drug dealing, riotous, prostitutes!
Overall though, I have a hard time blaming GM. Their decision to use the analogue system was a good one when they started OnStar. Had it been known, at that time, that the FCC would fold like a card house and let the cell companies shut down analogue cell systems. Then you could blame them. In the late 90's when OnStar was being developed they had no indication that analogue would be going away in the foreseeable future.
The only fault with GM I can see is that they should have provided for an upgradable system when they launched OnStar.
-mike
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
-mike
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Ditto. I got the same letter. What a cynical move with that coupon; They'll give us one year free service if we'll fork out for a new vehicle with the upgraded system. We bought the hardware to support the service and now they're essentially making it useless, as though it belonged to them. They don't seem to have any sense of loyalty to their customers, and calling us "valued customers" is shameless lip service.
-David
What happens when Uncle decides he does not want every Tom, Dick and Osama using the GPS system? They make a few keystroke changes and your NAV system and cell phone are inoperative. Will that be the automakers fault? It was not that long ago the the government shut down some of the satellites for security reasons. We could not get more than one satellite on our GPS clocking system. We did have a backup over the fiber to keep us talking to the rest of the world.
Onstar AMPS has gone the way of the 8 track, cassette & LP album. It will be less time for the next phase out of something you have gotten used to using.
I'm far less indignant about industry wide upgrades than those initiated by a single company which leave their customers high and dry. You don't seem to be giving the brains at GM much credit. If we here can conceive the viable solution of a converter/adapter, they certainly did as well. I remember in the late nineties newspapers were featuring reports about the coming conversion from analogue to HDTV. Initially the deadline was set for 2001. But after much outcry the option for a longer transition period was adopted. GM muckie-mucks don't live in a vacuum. They had to know the same would happen to analogue cellular service, all the while selling to their unsuspecting customers something they knew would soon be obsolete. If there were easy access to intra-corperate memos I suspect you'd find all contingencies were discussed long before any actual rumors of suspension out of the FCC. Indeed, it wouldn't surprise; they may have lobbied for it; It isn't hard to imagine someone there and then seeing the opportunity for a slight boost in new car sales.
All this may seem like a paranoid or cynical perspective. More likely business cunning is being underestimated. "It's uncle's fault" is their plausible deniability. And unless one of our numbers is a hotshot legal eagle with the tenacity of a badger about all we can do is boycott the company and snivel about their disloyalty in forums like these. HA!
After reviewing the wordy above: Isn't their failure to offer some converter/adapter for those who don't want to buy a new car the crux of the complaint?
Thanks for your interest.
-David
How's it going. You really get around.
You may be right, I've not look into the technology at all, nor heard anything about it from GM. But I did hear one unsubstantiated rumor (maybe here) that they'll convert your system if you sign up for three years service, $600. Their letter mentioned nothing about it, but I intend to call a dealer. If it's true it just shows anything's possible.
You know, if they had told me in the summer of 2001 my system would likely be obsolete in five or so years, I would have bought it anyway. It's the deception that wrankles.
-David
HA! Odd, the similarity in this and being dumped!
Cell phones have digital and analog capabilities, so it shouldn't be too hard for you to get an updated module for the Onstar system, if GM really wanted to correct the problem.
The problem is, their bottom dollar is selling cars, not out dated options, so they see no need in it.
Personally, I think OnStar should step up to the plate and make the modifications for those folks who want it.
Give it a little time and you may see something in the aftermarket.
Found another note in a discussion that MB is charging big bucks for their upgrade.
Just saw a headline on my ticker, "Sun Flares Could Damage GPS Satellites." Mmmm....
David
I never activated mine much to the salesman's demise as he kept calling for me to come in so that he could show me how to use it. All I replied was that when I first got the vehicle, you said,"don't worry about those buttons, they aren't important". Guess his sales manager told him differently....
Anyway, considering they did make an effort to make it easy to upgrade on the later years I'm retracting 50% of my previous vehemence.
Curious here too. I remember you switched to Nissan. How's that going? Compared to GM, how do they rate?
-David
I'm actually shocked that no high-tech-electronic genius (at GM or elsewhere) hasn't figured out how to solve the GM problem (now ours) that they "built in" to our cars. I can easily deal with paying for an upgrade or conversion; but GM, you haven't even scratched the surface to offer us that opportunity.
My argument is not with Verizon or the FCC; the onus of resolution lies squarely with GM!
I will gladly become part of any class-action suit, should that situation arise. Perhaps only if several thousand people shout loudly enough, GM will do the right thing.
Bought in January '05 and to date no issues requiring a trip back to the dealer after 27k miles. Don't have any complaints on the Denali either as its been back only once to replace a shock sensor. Compared to my '00 rado which had a service folder over 1.5" thick I think I've been rather lucky.
One thing that's offered on the Titan that's not available on the rados is the keypad entry. For $40 you can buy a wireless keypad which you can program with your code and install anywhere on the truck. I found it to be a lifesaver as somehow I find myself locking the keys in the truck more often. Think it might have something to do with age...lol!
Back to topic. I can't understand why there is no upgrade path with owners who have the analog vs. analog/digital unless it was a fitment issue. And if they are offering $500 towards a new vehicle why not towards a new Onstar unit?
I don't understand that logic. It is like someone being mad at GM for having an 8 track tape player, when they quit making 8 track tapes. Analog was slated to go away some time in the future just as regular TV. No one knew for sure when.
I will say that it seems strange that they cannot come up with a digital replacement module. Given the very small number of folks affected it is probably not worth the cost of development. I remember being offered Onstar in late 1998 for my Suburban. If they made the units digital capable in 2002, how many vehicles are we talking about with analog only? The price you pay for being on the leading edge.
BINGO!
It isn't the change in technology people are upset about; It's GM's lack of responsibility in not providing any alternatives for upgrade for a fairly large number of their so-called "valued customers".
-David
Must be a $10 fix....
My guess is at least $500 per vehicle to replace the analog system. It is not like they are buying 100k units. I would be surprised if there are 10k Onstar units that were sold back then. They have to pay the dealer to install them.
PS
DO you live in Hawaii? I would not have guessed that Onstar was available in the islands.