OnStar FMV about to Hit Best Buy Store Shelves
Officials announced this week that OnStar FMV — the first out-of-the-box application of OnStar’s “blue button” safety and security services that can work on 90 million older vehicles — goes on sale this Sunday.
The device also can be preordered at Best Buy stores nationwide.
Packing OnStar’s technology into a rearview mirror, the company indicated OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle) sells for $299.99, plus $75 for installation. Service plans for OnStar FMV start at $18.95 a month, or $199 a year.
“The wait is over,” OnStar president Linda Marshall declared.
“Since we announced OnStar FMV at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, thousands of people have signed up to be notified when this innovative product is ready to buy,” Marshall insisted.
“Now through Best Buy, they can enhance their Fords, Toyotas, Chryslers and other brands with the power of OnStar,” she added.
Marshall also reiterated OnStar FMV can provide the same core features as the service built into new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles from General Motors. These features include:
—Automatic Crash Response, triggered by an accelerometer in the unit, connects the vehicle to a trained OnStar emergency advisor in the event of a crash. The advisor can provide the exact location of the crash to emergency responders using the mirror’s GPS location, even if the vehicle’s occupants are unable to respond.
—Turn-by-Turn Navigation, OnStar’s most-popular service with 1.9 million requests a month is accessible with a press of the blue button. The driver can ask the advisor for directions for a specific address or location, such as a gas station or restaurant. Directions are downloaded to OnStar FMV, which provides spoken turn-by-turn instructions to the destination.
—Hands-Free Calling is available through the OnStar service itself or through a Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone. An external microphone, which is tucked into the roofline or above the overhead console, gives the best-possible voice quality while drivers can keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
—Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance uses OnStar FMV’s global positioning satellite system to provide a stolen vehicle’s location to law enforcement officials.
—Emergency Services, summoned by pushing the red button, bring specially trained emergency advisors on the line immediately to help in a crisis, such as witnessing a collision or a crime in progress.
—Roadside Assistance for non-emergency situations, such as a mechanical breakdown or a flat tire, is a blue-button push away.
As OnStar’s strategic retail partner for OnStar FMV, Best Buy plans to offer on-site installation through its network of more than 1,000 vehicle bays nationwide. Officials pointed out these bays are staffed by more than 1,400 Mobile Electronics Certified Professionals at Best Buy, including nearly half of the 194 MECP Master installers in the world.
The electronics retailer said more than 90 percent of surveyed Best Buy customers stated their auto installation was “done right the first time.”
Lisa Farrell, senior vice president and general manager of portable electronics at Best Buy, maintains that “Best Buy is always looking for ways to help consumers stay connected through technology in their everyday lives. This includes in their cars.
“We are proud to be the first to bring the OnStar FMV product to consumers nationwide and serve as a one-stop destination for purchase and installation,” Farrell went on to say.
Other retailers now offering or soon to offer OnStar FMV include Car Toys, Crutchfield, Fry’s Electronics, Al & Ed’s Autosound and P.C. Richard & Son.
Customers can find out if OnStar FMV is compatible with their vehicle through an online vehicle selector at OnStar.com.