GM’s little blue button delivers big on safety and security

In a day and age where people are constantly on the go — spending more time traveling by car than ever before — it is important to have a number of tools within reach. Seeing the need for travel assistance and increased safety, General Motors founded OnStar in 1995. The automotive giant’s invehicle safety and security system, OnStar has rapidly become known as the little blue button, which is now available on more than 50 GM 2007-and-later models.

The consumer base seemingly appreciates the convenience and value offered by OnStar, as witnessed by the continued growth of its subscriber base. In early 2007, OnStar exceeded five million subscribers. As the firm continues to grow its base, the assistance of the little blue button will become more and more synonymous with road travel.

Embracing innovation

OnStar is also the leader in developing invehicle safety and security features — a feat the firm has been able to accomplish through its dedication to developing innovative solutions to real-life travel situations. For example, in 2006 OnStar announced a number of service enhancements. Of particular significance has been the OnStar partnership with MapQuest, an online mapping publisher, and other wireless and business solutions products. As a result of this relationship, OnStar now allows its subscribers to download directions to their vehicles from www. mapquest.com.

The MapQuest partnership works in conjunction with OnStar’s Turn-by-Turn Navigation system, which was first introduced in February 2006 on the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS. However, it is now available as a part of OnStar’s complete suite of safety, security and communication services. OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation is included in the first year of service on all new Buicks and nearly all new Cadillac models. It is also featured on a number of other new GM vehicles or as a service upgrade on many other GM cars and trucks during the first year of service.

Truly tapping into the advances of innovation, OnStar also made a recent splash with its Stolen Vehicle Slowdown program. This dynamic service allows OnStar to remotely slow down a stolen vehicle in the event of a high-speed police pursuit. OnStar representatives feel that this service will assist in saving lives. Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is an enhancement to OnStar’s Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, which the company has offered to its subscribers since 1996.

Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance uses GPS technology to pinpoint the location of a vehicle that has been reported stolen. OnStar then provides the location to law enforcement to assist with the vehicle’s recovery. OnStar receives approximately 700 Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance requests from subscribers each month, and the company has helped in 28,000 requests over the past decade.

Community awareness

OnStar continues to grow and strengthen relationships with national organizations. For example, it partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to assist with the AMBER Alert program. If the an OnStar subscriber is in the area of an AMBER Alert, an OnStar adviser will notify them of the situation and ask the subscriber if they would like additional information to help identify the abducted child. According to OnStar spokes person Kameya Shows, this advancement allows OnStar’s adviser team to become more proactive in helping to make subscribers aware of AMBER Alerts in their specific area. “When a child is abducted, every second counts to increase the likelihood of a safe return,” OnStar President Chet Huber said. “Integrating geographical targeting into our technology further reinforces OnStar’s ongoing commitment to improve our capabilities to keep families – and in this case, children – safe and secure.”

OnStar has also partnered with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to study the best procedures for getting emergency response vehicles to a vehicle crash site. “This partnership will help first responders know the type of accident they are approaching and the possible injuries that may take place which will give them time to prepare for specific medical emergencies,” Shows said.

Using a collection of sensors, vehicle telemetry systems like OnStar send crash data to an adviser if the vehicle is involved in a moderate or severe front-, rear- or side-impact crash. Depending on the type of system, the data includes crash severity information along with data on the direction of impact, air bag deployment, multiple impacts and a rollover if the vehicle is equipped with appropriate sensors. Advisors can then relay this information to emergency dispatchers, helping them to quickly determine the appropriate combination of emergency personnel, equipment and medical facilities needed.