[AMERICA 123]

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/05/23/087919.html

OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation is recognized at the Telematics Update Detroit Ceremony

Detroit – OnStar by GM captured the “Best Embedded Telematics Navigation Product Award” at the 2008 Detroit Telematics Awards event.

Awards are judged by independent industry experts and are open to all companies in the automotive and mobile telematics eco-system that develop and provide compelling products, services, and content.

OnStar received the Best Embedded Product award for their Turn-by-Turn Navigation system, a unique and easy-to-use navigation service which uses an enhanced GPS system to guide drivers to their destination and automatically helps them get back on track if they make a wrong turn.

Since the launch of OnStar Turn-by Turn in 1996, more than 4.7 million Turn-by-Turn Navigation routes have been delivered to subscribers nationwide.

Drivers touch the blue OnStar button and then inform a live advisor of their destination. Directions are then sent to the vehicle and automated voice-guided directions are played in the vehicle as needed turn-by-turn.

“It is an honor to receive this recognition for our services,” said Nick Pudar, OnStar vice president, planning and business development.

“We strive to use research, technology and strategic relationships to provide our subscribers with the most innovative telematics technology on the market today.”

Over the Telematics Update Awards’ six-year history, OnStar’s industry leadership has been showcased with both individual and company-wide awards.

Past honors include:

* Best Telematics Navigation Product – 2006, 2007
* Best Use of Telematics Technology for Safety, 2007
* Best Embedded Telematics Service Award, 2007
* People's Choice of the Best Telematics Company, 2007
* Best use of Telematics for Automotive Safety and Security – 2005, 2006
* Best Embedded/Terminal Product – 2005 * Best Reseller/Retailer – 2005
* Leadership Award - 2003, 2004 – including the 2004 Leadership Award for OnStar President, Chet Huber
* Telematics in Action Award - 2003, 2004
* Heroes Award Nominees - Telematics Service Provider Employee – 2003

 

[suckstobeyou]

i thought turn by turn was launched in 06 and onstar was launched in 1996

 

[Buickman]

turn by turn is the best feature since the electric self-starter. I'd sooner give up keyless or heated seats. can't understand though why we ever licensed the technology to any of our competitors. regardless, it is a wonderful service and well worth the few hundred per year. BTW, one year service standard on all '08 Buicks.

 

[Shawn Wuan]

I love turn by turn also

 

[milton112c]

Congrats GM on making an excellent product. I know a lot of potential buyers who are won over on GM cars because of the OnStar system.

 

[tgagneguam]

turn by turn is the best feature since the electric self-starter. I'd sooner give up keyless or heated seats. can't understand though why we ever licensed the technology to any of our competitors. regardless, it is a wonderful service and well worth the few hundred per year. BTW, one year service standard on all '08 Buicks.

I'm especially pleased that OnStar is a success, and they continue to do well with new product ideas.

However, I've used both our Turn-by-turn in one vehicle and my TomTom in my car, and I find I much prefer my TomTom to Turn-by-turn. Perhaps it's the addition of a visual aid with the TomTom, perhaps it's more minor features like being able to separately adjust the volume of my TomTom and the radio and that the function of one does not interfere with the function of the other, like in Turn-by-turn, but, again, I prefer the TomTom.

Nonetheless, I'm glad Turn-by-turn offers another choice for consumers. That GM profits from it is icing on the cake.

 

[ChevroletRevived]

I agree Turn-by-Turn is awesome. It just works and it's not overly complicated, it really is a huge selling point for people. It's good to see it winning awards!

 

[Rocket 88]

I've used both our Turn-by-turn in one vehicle and my TomTom in my car, and I find I much prefer my TomTom to Turn-by-turn. Perhaps it's the addition of a visual aid with the TomTom, perhaps it's more minor features like being able to separately adjust the volume of my TomTom and the radio and that the function of one does not interfere with the function of the other, like in Turn-by-turn, but, again, I prefer the TomTom.

I liked my Tom Tom 510 until it started acting funny (sometimes refuses to turn on). Now I think I'm going to try OnStar turn by turn before replacing it. I've been reluctant because of the lack of visual aid with Onstar, but will give it a shot.

Basic OnStar is a great safety feature and wish my wife had it in her car.

 

[69Firebird400]

I'm glad to see OnStar getting this award. I haven't had TBT it in a vehicle that I've driven before, but I'd be curious to use it. (I have seen a video of it in use). The biggest frustration I have with factory DVD navigation systems is the inability to enter a destination while moving, even if the passenger is doing the entry - this system eliminates that problem. However, I do prefer the map detail (especially in a city setting) and don't particularly want to talk to an operator every time I want to enter a destination. The Mapquest tie-in solves that problem, but you have to plan your trip in advance to take advantage of it.

Also, 4.7 million trips routed in two years doesn't sound like a whole lot. Isn't that less than one per OnStar-equipped vehicle that GM sold (assuming that OnStar is on nearly every new GMNA vehicle)?

 

[Clownzilla]

Well, that's nice but when can I use my Onstar hands-free calling system with my own bluetooth phone and my own cell phone service. I will still pay for the Onstar service but just let me access my own in-car phone system on my own terms. Ford is doing it so why don't you GM?

 

[dratnol]

turn by turn is the best feature since the electric self-starter. I'd sooner give up keyless or heated seats. can't understand though why we ever licensed the technology to any of our competitors.

Is Acura still using OnStar and if so, do they offer turn by turn?

 

[a_v_s]

The biggest frustration I have with factory DVD navigation systems is the inability to enter a destination while moving, even if the passenger is doing the entry - this system eliminates that problem.

Not all DVD navigation systems are like that... Acura's system is not like that... You can enter destinations while moving just fine....

My biggest gripe with Turn-by-turn... It relies on a cell-phone signal to talk to the advisor, and it relies on the cell-phone signal to transfer the data. That means if you don't have cell-signal when you need directions, you are SOL. I'd be more irritated with that than the inability to program the nav while moving... At least you can pull over and enter directions...

 

[emh]

Not all DVD navigation systems are like that... Acura's system is not like that... You can enter destinations while moving just fine....

Same with BMW's. Even for systems that don't allow destination entry while moving, a quick web search can often find you the way to disable that safety feature.

My biggest gripe with Turn-by-turn... It relies on a cell-phone signal to talk to the advisor, and it relies on the cell-phone signal to transfer the data. That means if you don't have cell-signal when you need directions, you are SOL. I'd be more irritated with that than the inability to program the nav while moving... At least you can pull over and enter directions...

Completely agree. Also, I like having the map display -- sometimes seeing where I'm on the map helps more than the directions themselves.

 

[tgagneguam]

I liked my Tom Tom 510 until it started acting funny (sometimes refuses to turn on). Now I think I'm going to try OnStar turn by turn before replacing it. I've been reluctant because of the lack of visual aid with Onstar, but will give it a shot.

Basic OnStar is a great safety feature and wish my wife had it in her car.

Wow, shared experiences and logic. I admit the botton to power the TomTom is fussy; it needs to be pressed just so so it turns on. A safety feature to prevent easy/mistaken powering on/off? I don't know, but it can be annoying.

And I, too, like the visual aid provided with TomTom versus a lack of one for TBT.

And one other reason I prefer TomTom is that when you decide to take a turn off the planned route, TomTom simply recalculates the route with relative ease. TBT interrupts and asks too soon if you would prefer the route to be recalculated. Again, a minor nuisance, I know, but one that's absent with TomTom.

 

[VAs Finest]

Wow, shared experiences and logic. I admit the botton to power the TomTom is fussy; it needs to be pressed just so so it turns on. A safety feature to prevent easy/mistaken powering on/off? I don't know, but it can be annoying.

And I, too, like the visual aid provided with TomTom versus a lack of one for TBT.

And one other reason I prefer TomTom is that when you decide to take a turn off the planned route, TomTom simply recalculates the route with relative ease. TBT interrupts and asks too soon if you would prefer the route to be recalculated. Again, a minor nuisance, I know, but one that's absent with TomTom.

tomtom's do all sorts of neat stuff. the new GO 930 have new features that tell you what lane you're supposed to be in, has an "IQ" routes feature that calculates your actual speeds of travel (instead of just speed limits). not really sure what innovations onstar is up to, but tomtom is consistently improving.

 

[Vladimir1978]

I've never understood why GM doesn't just add a couple hundred bucks to the MSRP of every vehicle they sell and make OnStar and turn by turn standard across the board. That would be one hell of a coup over the competition, and by amortizing the costs over the entire lineup, the consumer wouldn't feel the pinch of a couple hundred bucks a year in subscriptions.

 

[ChevroletRevived]

turn by turn is the best feature since the electric self-starter. I'd sooner give up keyless or heated seats. can't understand though why we ever licensed the technology to any of our competitors. regardless, it is a wonderful service and well worth the few hundred per year. BTW, one year service standard on all '08 Buicks.

Didn't see this post. I actually agree with it...all of it! Was a very stupid thing to license OnStar at all in, in any form to anyone IMO.

 

[rumble bee]

This is the only feature that made the Silverado SS more appealing at the time I bought my Rumble Bee, Onstar. Cosequently, I have been lost at least a couple times and locked my key inside once so there have been times when I have definitly wanted that feature. However, the rumble and punch of that HEMI makes all the difference, it was hard to resist, too hard to resist. Thats why I'm driving the Mighty Bee today.

 

[auburnblu]

Standar turn by turn? Is this board fiiled with idiots that cannot read a map. You want safety. Standard run flats. I have a mobile phone, I can read a map, I HATE OnStar. Invasive technology that will screw up who knows what. I asked the dealership I bought my 08 Silverado not to activate OnStar, it was anyway. Have tried to cancel. OnStar said nope only the dealership can cancel in the first year. I own the damn vehicle and only the delaership can cancel for me. And I'm supposed to trust this moronic company to to have OnStar screw up my truck with this absolutely pitiful level of customer service. No more GM purchases for me until they realize some of their customers don't want it forced on them.

GM executives should spend less time on this intrusive service and more time staring at the fuel economy stats of the 4 speed automatic Prizm. Nothing these days comes close.

I've never understood why GM doesn't just add a couple hundred bucks to the MSRP of every vehicle they sell and make OnStar and turn by turn standard across the board. That would be one hell of a coup over the competition, and by amortizing the costs over the entire lineup, the consumer wouldn't feel the pinch of a couple hundred bucks a year in subscriptions.