On*Star not GM exclusive anymore.

[BondiBlue]

Clicky.

As of spring 2011, On*Star aftermarket review mirrors will go on sale at Best Buy and other consumer electronics stores. Just replace your mirror and subscribe to the service!

I'm personally not interested, but I'm surprised GM didn't capitalize on this sooner.

[Flagstang]

no way it can have all the ability of the oem factory installed units.

[GapBoyPCS]

Originally Posted by BondiBlue

Clicky.

As of spring 2011, On*Star aftermarket review mirrors will go on sale at Best Buy and other consumer electronics stores. Just replace your mirror and subscribe to the service!

I'm personally not interested, but I'm surprised GM didn't capitalize on this sooner.

I think in the past it was meant as a "GM-exclusive" feature i.e. you had to buy a GM product to get it. It probably took a few folks to smarten up others and realize there's a potential market for this.

There are conditions (small print at the bottom of their site):

Services vary by vehicle and equipment type. Door Unlocking and Vehicle Diagnostics provided via Roadside Assistance and cannot be performed remotely (or, over the air). Mobile apps not available with non-factory installed system. OnStar Hands-Free Calling requires a Hands-Free Calling enabled vehicle, existing OnStar service contract and prepaid minutes or enrollment in a shared minutes plan. Not available in certain markets. Calls may be made to the US and Canada only. Ability to locate stolen vehicles varies with conditions. OnStar acts as a link to existing emergency providers.

I think SYNC services are about $99/year. On*Star services range between $199 and $299/year.

Aside from the emergency services, I can't see how much more value it can offer than a good GPS system or maps, membership in an automotive club like AAA, and a hands-free mobile phone system.

[BondiBlue]

Originally Posted by GapBoyPCS

On*Star services range between $199 and $299/year.

F that.

[tjl]

Originally Posted by GapBoyPCS

I think SYNC services are about $99/year. On*Star services range between $199 and $299/year.

On*Star is more expensive because it include the dedicated cell phone service (On*Star equipped cars, or the On*Star mirror, includes the dedicated cell phone). SYNC, on the other hand, uses the cell phone you likely already have, so it avoids this expense (isn't it $60 per year after the free period for three years after you buy a new Ford?).

On*Star having a dedicated cell phone also caused problems when the analog cell phone system went away, obsoleting all On*Star units with built in analog cell phones. SYNC is dependent on Bluetooth, though even if Bluetooth is obsoleted, you can still keep an old Bluetooth phone in the car with a cheap plan attached to it. Only if Bluetooth and the cell phone technology used in Bluetooth capable phones is obsoleted would current SYNC become useless.