Report: OnStar Working On Older Model Compatibility For Smartphone Apps
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As owners of many GM vehicles know very well, GM’s and OnStar’s recently-released suite of mobile apps are nothing short of impressive. However, these applications are only compatible with 2011 (and newer) model year vehicles, leaving owners of older models out of luck. But if messages from Twitter are to be believed, owners of older models may soon get the royal app treatment as well.
In a Tweet late last month, OnStar head Chris Preuss had the following to say to a Twitter user inquiring about the reason the iPhone OnStar App doesn’t work with a 2007 Chevy Tahoe:
“#OnStar app for iPhone doesn’t work on my 2007 Tahoe..its hardware in car that enables new in ’11…wrking on older mods now”
And just a few short minutes later, another conversation between Preuss and a Twitter inquirer:
“@1TrueCanadian un4tunately not…elec architecture issue. We hope to get ’08s active. Email me [email protected] 4 more info”
The GM Authority Take
It would be great news if OnStar enabled its apps to function with 2008 model year GM vehicles. Unfortunately, that leaves owners of pre-2008 model year vehicles out of luck. So our question to you, dear reader, is this: how far does OnStar/GM need to go in order to satisfy you as an existing owner of a GM vehicle and OnStar subscriber? Keep in mind that GM and OnStar are in this game as a business… talk to us in the comments.
PS: if the above links and quotes don’t do it for you, here are the screenshots of the aforementioned tweets by Mr. Preuss.
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It would be a great business move it the onstar link worked on older models. I have a 2007 Tahoe and would love to have this option.
Any further news?
My 08 CTS could use this!
I bought a 2007 Tahoe, and I have AAA for my roadside assistance. I see no real reason to buy OnStar unless I could geek out on it with a remote app on my phone. if they want my monthly dues they should consider making a way for me to utilize the app too.
I would love to be able to use this on 2009 Tahoe. I have the service for onstar but app won’t work for this year . Is this coming anytime soon.
I do wish they made it compatible for my 08 Silverado but I guess it’ll never happen. I was told that even if I get the Viper SmartStart system to have that capability, it would conflict with onstar so the onstar would have to be disabled which means no more accident notification or nadda.
I would love to have all of these upgrades, i have always owned GM. I bought my 05 Duramax new and i’ve been a onstar subscriber since day one. I love my truck so I guess i’m looking elsewhere for the upgrades onstar cannot provide. Good-bye onstar.
I have and 08 Avalanche. I pay for the OnStar Monthly and recently learned of the OnStar Android app only to discover that my vehicle isn’t compatible according to the website. Then I found this blog with the last entry being May of this year. Is there any updates since then? In the blog it says that GM is working to make the app compatible with the 08 models…any news on that?
Whoops…LOL…Just realized I was only on page one when I added my comment. Guess people are still talking about this past May… still no news though? What’s taking them so long to make this compatible? I’d pay for a hardware upgrade if it meant using the app…providing the price was reasonable.
Just purchased a 2008 Cadillac SRX. I just got a free trial for 3 months of OnStar. I downloaded the app RemoteLink and to my disappointment I cannot use it for my 2008 vehicle. I came to this site and seen you wrote about the guy mentioning it was in the works back in 2010 and its 2013 and yet still nothing has happened for this app and older models pre existing the 2010 models.
Here we are and no new updates for 08 gmc vechiles. I have an onstar account and it will run out end of the year. If onstar cant get the mobile link compatible with my 08 then I will NOT renew. The CEO should have had a deadline or just flat out tell folks yes or no for 08 s
I let my Onstar expire on my 08CTS because of this. If GM enables my vehicle, I will renew.
Id just like to say for one im sure that onstar can make something for the od2 to make easy plug and play. So anyone with onstar that has all the cool stuff that only onstar can do over the phone will work with a cell phone app. And also 30$ a month for emergency response?!!!! It a unlawful act to pass anyone up that’s in a emergency situation life or death. So 30$ a month or u can lay there and bleed to death huh? Nice to know right! As for as I know 911 for an cell phone without any service plan can still dial out for 911 . If your out boating and u see a boat going down. You have to by law help the boat in distress. OnStar should suck it up as one of the acts by nature to provide u with help if need be, free of charge. It should be free to anyone that has onstar in there vehicle. Or hell at least 30$ a year not a month.
Just purchased a 2008 LT tahoe with remote start using the galaxy note3 will this new app work with my tahoe?
if it is a GM fault not in Dawnstar fault trying to peddle the newer vehicle so somebody can have a more technologically advanced piece of equipment. I also don’t understand why on star would not give a discount to services for the older models when the same price for the older models is the same price as the new models with the new technology why should I have to pay more for less
I’m with everyone else I just bought an 09 cts4 with the level 2 options package and sport package. from a cadillac dealership none the less and spent around $22,000, a family member of mine just a brand new chevy Cruze and spent approximately the same. What makes their money greener than mine? Why should they have access to the app for a Chevy cruise but not for a cadillac? We spent the same amount of money. I will say i do have onstar and like it. I just have the safe and sound package and some phone mins. I didn’t care for the navigation through them it wouldn’t retoute me around construction I tried atleast 3 times and they kept sending me the same way. I just bought a regular GPS it’s cheaper too. The monthly updates and theift protection is definitely nice to have. At least I can have them unlock the doors and run diagnostics on my car. I was very disappointed when I found out I couldn’t use the app tho. onstar would definitely gain a lot of business onstar for Our older cars should be cheaper then if we don’t have access to all the same stuff? That’s only fair..
Hi Alex,
2002 escalde can I have Bluetooth through the onstar system without buying minutes.
Please help. Officer law not happy with cell phone in hand and wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I ever injured anyone while using non hands free comm.
All the best.
I have a 2005 Envoy that I purchased 5 montbs ago. I have the onstar activated and like it features. Would like it more if the app wojld work too. I do not have the means to purchase new vehicles but would like it in the winter if Icoud remote start my vehicle through onstar.
My grandfather purchased a Yukon xl denali brand new in 2007, I bought it from his estate when he passed. I activated the trial only because the rep told me that I could use the app an since I was misinformed they gave me 3 more months for free, but as stated by previous commenters, if I have triple A and a cell phone, and the truck has in-dash nav, (cell, in dash, on-star) is triple redundant, if there is a way I could upgrade the hardware I would do it, otherwise when my free trial runs out I find no reason to keep it. I am looking for every reason to, and the app is the only reason I agreed to the trial in the first place.
I have a 2006 trailblazer. Had it since new. I also have OnStar. I feel that I should b able to get remote link
Do you have to have an OnStar subscription for your cell phone to access the hands free function? (2009 Cobalt)