OnStar will be expanding its customer base this spring as the popular safety and security technology company starts making their service available at more than 1,000 stores nationwide. The product will come as an installable rear view mirror that will be compatible with top selling vehicles including Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford F-Series trucks. The mirror will be selling for about $300 with a service plan of $18.95 a month or $200 a year. The same rate offered to GM OnStar subscribers.
The retail version will give drivers access to most of OnStar’s services, such as automatic crash detection, turn-by-turn directions, stolen vehicle location and the ability to reach an OnStar adviser by pushing a call button. Features such as remote starting, are being considered for the package, according to GM officials.
While some feel that Onstar advisers will become obsolete as voice recognition technology becomes better and more affordable, OnStar is teaming up with Verizon to take the OnStar service to the next level. With the Verizon 4G broadband network, high tech ideas such as tweeting, video chat and view live traffic camera images from behind the wheel is the aim of the partnership. OnStar and Verizon gave consumers a peek at what’s possible while unveiling a prototype Buick LaCrosse at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.