Wow, I appreciated that lengthy response.
It made me wonder if my numerous posts on the internet affected GM's Onstar policies regarding the reporting of trouble codes. I stumbled across this capability by accident, and posted it frequently as a resource that subscribers should take advanatage of for the $200-$400 every year that Onstar subscribers must pay. I probably should have kept my mouth shut, as it now appears, by your report, that Onstar will no longer provide you with the info they have about YOUR vehicle that YOU pay for, and on top of that pay them to track.
Hmmm, that doesn't sound too good. OnStar, if you are listening, note that if gn85's experience is what I should expect next time I call (which is less than once every two years), then I too, will be looking at alternatives.
One alternative in some populus metropolitan communities is dialing 511 for local traffic along commute corridors.
Another alternative available with Verizon Wireless is their VZ Navigator service, where, for $10.00 a month, you can have turn by turn navigation in your hand held phone, complete with 3D "bird's eye" maps, alternative routes, zoom capability, and voiced commands. Recently, VZ Navigator was enhanced to include traffic, construction, and congestion reports along the navigated route. These reports are about as updated as the Onstar Virtual Advisor, both of which are far better than XM traffic or the local news radio station. VZ Navigator takes it a step further to include real time gas price comparisons at service stations.
I'm still keeping my OnStar in tact for now. I will wait until they disappoint me personally before condeming them. Onstar offered to send me monthly emails, but I refused. I beleive that Onstar pushed for this in conjunction with GMAC financing and the insurance industry, in order to have a lawful reason to "track" and monitor mileage data on your vehicle even if you do not push the OnStar blue dot button.
As I understand the service agreement, Onstar can only llawfully collect data from a vehicle upon customer request, be it by phone call to report lost keys, lock out, or stolen vehicle... or from the blue star button within the vehicle. Any other tracking uninitiated by the consumer would be considered an invasion of privacy. However, if the consumer signs up for the monthly email report, that gives Onstar "standing permission" by the consumer to connect with the vehicle periodically without that connection being initiated by the consumer. Having this standing permission offers very useful asset tracking authority by leasing companies, and is helpful to insurance companies as well, since vehicle mileage is reported every time a connection is made with Onstar.
My rig is paid for, but I still didn't like the idea of granting OnStar standing permission to connect with the vehicle anytime they choose. Of course, they still can from a technological point of view, provided the vehicle battery is still connected. But from a legal standpoint, they shouldn't, because I have not requested them to. This is at least how I understand it to be.
And now, back to blue tooth...
..too death.
....it pisses me off that I have an 08 without Bluetooth, and even I wanted to pay to get what the 09's have, I can't do it, because On* won't do it.....sucks....because you know if they wanted to make an upgrade box, they could, they just don't want too, and as long as there is NO competition, they don't have too.
