By Andrew Liszewski
Wow, I can’t say I ever saw this one coming. After the company’s restructuring, General Motors realized the value of their OnStar service and has been trying to find new ways to further take advantage of the brand. This has led to smartphone apps letting users interact and monitor their vehicles, and new services integrating OnStar with social networks like Facebook. But today the General revealed just how far they want to expand the OnStar brand by introducing an OnStar-equipped standalone rearview mirror that can be installed in older GM vehicles, or more surprisingly, non-GM vehicles.
That’s right! If you’ve ever used the Sync system in your Ford and wished it had all the bells and whistles that OnStar does, your wish has come true. For $299, plus installation which is expected to run between $75 and $100, you can have your rearview mirror professionally replaced so that your vehicle can take advantage of the more popular OnStar features like turn-by-turn navigation, voice control, vehicle recovery, crash and emergency response and even hands-free calling. Of course some of the more advanced integration seen with GM’s current vehicle lineup isn’t available with this solution, but if you really want them just go buy a GM vehicle. In addition to the cost of the mirror and installation, there are also monthly or annual fees for the OnStar service which start at $18.95/month and go up to $199/year.
[ OnStar ]
