Onstar

Automakers are obtaining location data through real-time navigation functions and other on-board location services and storing it for varying lengths of time. They need to provide motorists with more information on how and why they're collecting and sharing data, according to a report released Monday.

When OnStar first launched in the mid-1990s, cell phones were few and far between. Now, nearly everyone has a GPS-enabled smartphone that can deliver directions, serve as a lifeline in an emergency, and even allow you to control some functions of your car with apps like Chevy MyLink or MyFord Mobile.

OnStar pioneered the connected car, offering emergency services and navigation functions to drivers.

On Monday, May 7 at 8 p.m., the "World's Wildest Police Videos" program returns to Spike TV. Many of the videos feature what has become a favorite of TV and Internet viewers – the police car chase.

OnStar mobile applications – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford has just added a helpful new function to its 911 Assist SYNC app. Emergency services can now easily locate distressed motorists via a vehicle's GPS coordinates and call for assistance, thereby diminishing response times. Ford says that the service is completely free, and will show up on 2011 models equipped with MyFord and MyLincoln Touch, along with s

More tech in your car? Oh, that's inevitable. But automakers are trying to figure out the best way to implement it. There are two main architectures currently; tethered and embedded. Ford's SYNC is an example of a tethered tech-integration system that uses Bluetooth to connect to mobile devices consumers already own and carry with them. General

It sounds like General Motors has big plans for OnStar. While speaking with CNN Money, Chris Preuss, head of the telematics service, said that the company is looking to add a number of functions to make the service more usable by customers. That could include tricks like app integration that would allow owners to

The 2010 Edison awards were announced last week and General Motors, Tata and Brammo were all winners for transportation related innovations. GM received a silver Edison award for one of the most useful new features added to its Onstar telematics system last year: the stolen vehicle slowdown th

Profitable, and with 5.5 million subscribers under its belt, GM's OnStar vehicle telematics system is not for sale, according to a top General Motors executive. "At this point, OnStar is firmly a part of the new GM and is an integral part of GM's future strategy," reports Chet Huber, the outgoing president of OnStar. Huber, who has led the unit since its launch in 1995, made the statement yesterday during a media event with his successor, Walt Dorfstatter.

That little red box contains a lot of electronic goodies that, until now, were only available as options on newer vehicles. Plug that plastic rectangle into your car's diagnostics port and CarShield puts you in touch with your car like never before.

A little while ago we reported on BMW using Google Maps to help motorists who might be directionally challenged. These BMW owners can conduct a trvael search on their home computer and beam the destination straight to their Bimmer. It makes entering the destination into the car's navi unnecessary and the whole process a little safer and error proof.

A few months back we informed you that many current OnStar subscribers will soon be cut from GM's communications network. The reason for the loss of OnStar service dates back to 2002, when the FCC decided that to by January 1st, 2008, all analog networks would have to be shut down, so there could be only one standard -- digital for all.

A decision by the Federal Communications Commission that allows all cell phone companies to turn off their analog networks beginning in February of 2008 means that nearly two million people, or half of OnStar's entire subscription base, will soon find the other end silent when they press that blue button on their vehicle's dash.

General Motors announced today that in addition to the standard free year of service that comes with every vehicle equipped with OnStar, customers purchasing a GM vehicle with aftermarket equipment for the disabled will receive an extra two years of free OnStar service. The deal works through GM's Mobility Reimbursement Program that since 1991 has been reimbursing disabled customers an extra $1,000 when they buy or lease a GM vehicle and adapt it with one of 3

TechnoRide recently navigated using OnStar's new "Turn-by-Turn" navigation system to see how it worked. Turn-by-Turn works by OnStar downloading a route's directions into the vehicle. Voice prompts are uttered where to go, turn, etc., like a standard navigation system. TechnoRide used a Cadillac STS as their test vehicle.