How It Works: GM's Bluetooth

[Bvonscott]

I have used the system with some of the new 09's on the lot. I DO NOT LIKE IT.

Some more details: When you pair your phone to the car, it wants to record your voice "name" for each phone you want to use. When you hit the button for the phone, then say bluetooth, you then speak the name you made for the phone and it repeats it back to you. I find that would be silly when you have guests in your car. So everytime you use bluetooth it repeats back to you the voice tag for the phone you paired. Then you can tell it the numbers to dial or use voice commands from your phone. I DO NOT LIKE SPEAKING TO MY CAR. All I want is to press a button on my phone and have it use the car's bluetooth for a mic and speaker. Of the people I've spoke to about it, women like the system and men don't. Men don't want to be speaking at their car, repeating themseleves when it doesn't understand them, and hear themselves speak from the paired phone recording. Every other system out there you simply use menus on your phone to activate bluetooth and make a call. While apparently this is possible with this new system it still repeats your recording and there is no instructions on how to do it.

If you want more detail check here: www.gmc.com/bluetooth

I'll be getting an aftermarket system for my truck.

[cemaxc]

Any word if this system will work with the older OnStar systems? I would really like to put it in my 06 Vue but I don't know if this bluetooth thing is compatible with the OnStar 5 (or 6, I don't remember which it is).

[Robert G]

Actually, that's not exactly the way it works for our car. We have a 2008 CTS with OnStar with Bluetooth capability. I have paired both my cell phone and my wife's cell phone to the system. When I go in and my phone is on (and bluetooth on the phone is on), the car automatically makes that connection. If my wife goes in and her phone is on (and bluetooth on the phone is on), the car automatically connects with her phone. If both of our phones are on and we both enter the car, it will select the first bluetooth (the order originally established, unless you change the order in the car's system), but if we want to change from my phone to hers, it is a separate series of commands. You can either change which phone for that time or re-order the two phones. However, you only need to do that if you need to make a change.

Otherwise, it automatically connects to a phone and you just hold the mute button to start the process, say Handsfree (in the CTS with Nav, you say Handsfree first), then say Dial and then say the number (or use the phone numbers you have saved). The phone shows the number on the screen in front of the driver, tells you it is dialing using the name you assigned to the phone when you first paired it and makes the call.

If you go through this process when you don't have your bluetooth-enabled phone on, the system tells you it is dialing using OnStar and makes the call.

I believe that the system in the CTS works well.

Originally Posted by Bvonscott

I have used the system with some of the new 09's on the lot. I DO NOT LIKE IT.

Some more details: When you pair your phone to the car, it wants to record your voice "name" for each phone you want to use. When you hit the button for the phone, then say bluetooth, you then speak the name you made for the phone and it repeats it back to you. I find that would be silly when you have guests in your car. So everytime you use bluetooth it repeats back to you the voice tag for the phone you paired. Then you can tell it the numbers to dial or use voice commands from your phone. I DO NOT LIKE SPEAKING TO MY CAR. All I want is to press a button on my phone and have it use the car's bluetooth for a mic and speaker. Of the people I've spoke to about it, women like the system and men don't. Men don't want to be speaking at their car, repeating themseleves when it doesn't understand them, and hear themselves speak from the paired phone recording. Every other system out there you simply use menus on your phone to activate bluetooth and make a call. While apparently this is possible with this new system it still repeats your recording and there is no instructions on how to do it.

If you want more detail check here: www.gmc.com/bluetooth

I'll be getting an aftermarket system for my truck.

[Robert G]

I believe that it is built into OnStar 8, but prior versions of OnStar do not have the capability to have bluetooth built in. I believe that others in that situation have added a separate bluetooth system.

Originally Posted by cemaxc

Any word if this system will work with the older OnStar systems? I would really like to put it in my 06 Vue but I don't know if this bluetooth thing is compatible with the OnStar 5 (or 6, I don't remember which it is).

[bc3tech]

Originally Posted by squat

I think you're 100% correct about GMs worry that bluetooth connectivity causing fewer onStar subscriptions. That's just something that GM is going to have to live with. Every company would like to charge their existing customers more but when it start to look like they're gonna just nickel and dime all their customers they start to lose customers.

Better to just give people what they want and hope that your market share grows because of that.

they'll probably just charge more to those that DO have onStar.

[slowinthefastlane]

Good to hear about the Bluetooth support. I'm on a corporate ATT account, so the OnStar phone service wasn't workable for me, as I don't get to choose my provider.

Even though I have OnStar, I have a little bluetooth speaker that clips to my visor in order to be in compliance with California handsfree laws. It would be a nice feature to have built into the car, though.

[jbernie]

Although slow to the BT party, at first look it does seem to be an intelligent solution to a unique (GM only pretty much) problem.

Not having had OnStar does it mute the stereo etc when calls are being made/received and if so, I would presume that it would also do the same when sending/receiving calls via the BT option as well?

[fenderbender]

I've used it, still doesn't come close to sync, IMO

[Bvonscott]

Originally Posted by Robert G

Actually, that's not exactly the way it works for our car. We have a 2008 CTS with OnStar with Bluetooth capability. I have paired both my cell phone and my wife's cell phone to the system. When I go in and my phone is on (and bluetooth on the phone is on), the car automatically makes that connection. If my wife goes in and her phone is on (and bluetooth on the phone is on), the car automatically connects with her phone. If both of our phones are on and we both enter the car, it will select the first bluetooth (the order originally established, unless you change the order in the car's system), but if we want to change from my phone to hers, it is a separate series of commands. You can either change which phone for that time or re-order the two phones. However, you only need to do that if you need to make a change.

Otherwise, it automatically connects to a phone and you just hold the mute button to start the process, say Handsfree (in the CTS with Nav, you say Handsfree first), then say Dial and then say the number (or use the phone numbers you have saved). The phone shows the number on the screen in front of the driver, tells you it is dialing using the name you assigned to the phone when you first paired it and makes the call.

If you go through this process when you don't have your bluetooth-enabled phone on, the system tells you it is dialing using OnStar and makes the call.

I believe that the system in the CTS works well.

You just explained it better than I did. That is how it works. That is why I dont like it. The phone shows you the number on the screen, then plays back the recording of the name you assigned to the phone when you first paired it. I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR A RECORDING OF MYSELF SAYING MY PHONES NAME> THAT IS LAME. You also have to "SAY" the number. I just want to dial it. Half the time it does not recognize what the heck I'm saying. Not mad at ya just frustrated by how it works.

And to the other question yes it mutes the radio.

[Robert G]

Yes, it automatically mutes the system when you select to make a call or accept a call, whether the call is being made or received through Bluetooth or through the OnStar phone service.

The only real difference I have noticed at times is that generally the OnStar service connects quicker than using the Bluetooth, but I chalk that up to the additional electronics steps and connections which the service must make when using Bluetooth.

Originally Posted by jbernie

Although slow to the BT party, at first look it does seem to be an intelligent solution to a unique (GM only pretty much) problem.

Not having had OnStar does it mute the stereo etc when calls are being made/received and if so, I would presume that it would also do the same when sending/receiving calls via the BT option as well?

[Robert G]

Filing it in the file of "some call it a glitch, others a feature," I like that it says what service it is placing the call through.

Sometimes I have found with Bluetooth that you believe it is connected, but it drops its connection. When the software recites through which service it is placing the call, I can be assured that it is through Bluetooth and my cell phone, rather than through the OnStar phone service. But, to each his own.

The only solution I can offer is to name your phone in the original Bluetooth pairing process something really simple and short, as the system is just replaying what you recorded when naming the phone when you paired it, like, say "Phone." (Maybe, you can win a game on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and ask Carl Kasell to name your phone in your car when you pair it, rather than creating the greeting on your home answering machine.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wait_wait_don%27t_tell_me

Originally Posted by Bvonscott

You just explained it better than I did. That is how it works. That is why I dont like it. The phone shows you the number on the screen, then plays back the recording of the name you assigned to the phone when you first paired it. I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR A RECORDING OF MYSELF SAYING MY PHONES NAME> THAT IS LAME. You also have to "SAY" the number. I just want to dial it. Half the time it does not recognize what the heck I'm saying. Not mad at ya just frustrated by how it works.

And to the other question yes it mutes the radio.

[EllwynX]

Originally Posted by Bvonscott

You just explained it better than I did. That is how it works. That is why I dont like it. The phone shows you the number on the screen, then plays back the recording of the name you assigned to the phone when you first paired it. I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR A RECORDING OF MYSELF SAYING MY PHONES NAME> THAT IS LAME. You also have to "SAY" the number. I just want to dial it. Half the time it does not recognize what the heck I'm saying. Not mad at ya just frustrated by how it works.

And to the other question yes it mutes the radio.

You do realize the point of bluetooth being integrated is so you don't have to use your hands right? I'm not trying to be facetious, but you're saying you'd rather dial the # by hand. And that's not really legal, so the speaking to the car relieves you of having to do it.

I, personally, couldn't care less if I have to say a few words to my car. It's a feature I'm looking forward to in my new Camaro...

[TJ95GAGT]

Originally Posted by EllwynX

You do realize the point of bluetooth being integrated is so you don't have to use your hands right? I'm not trying to be facetious, but you're saying you'd rather dial the # by hand. And that's not really legal, so the speaking to the car relieves you of having to do it.

I, personally, couldn't care less if I have to say a few words to my car. It's a feature I'm looking forward to in my new Camaro...

Its not hands off of the wheel that scare me, its people minds wandering in conversation with people NOT in the car. How the government thought this was "Safe" is beyond me. I see bluetooth as a convenience, talking to someone without my hand to my ear. I try not to use the phone in the car anyways and IF I do its short and to the point.

On speaking a number to the car, I don't know all the numbers in my phone to say them to the car but I can get to most of them within 4 clicks of buttons on the phone. So since I don't know the numbers I'm calling I'd be looking at the phone anyways. I cannot see people knowing every number in their phone, surely I'm not alone in this.

[impala02]

Originally Posted by HiHoSilver

If you have Verizon Wireless and a nationwide calling plan with OnStar it would fit in perfectly. Using the same minutes on your cell phone and the OnStar phone and having one bill - not having to pay extra for OnStar calling minutes. OnStar markets their phone for emergencies, if you leave your cell phone at home or it has a dead battery. Great choices and now bluetooth!

I actually looked into this, as my wife and I both have OnStar and a Verizon nationwide plan. But, the problem is, Verizon will charge you 9.99 a month for an "additional" phone. Not worth it in my opinion. I wish we waited a year to get out car so we could have Bluetooth AND iPod integration.

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp/plans/dhs.jsp

[stevecmh]

i wish my grand prix had this