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GM Makes Key Fob Services From OnStar’s RemoteLink App Free For 2014 Models

General Motors has announced a new program today that allows OnStar-equipped 2014 model year Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac models to utilize the OnStar RemoteLink Key Fob Services for free, even if customers elect not to pay for an OnStar subscription.

The Key Fob services component of the OnStar RemoteLink app provides owners with the ability to perform the following functions directly from their smartphone:

  • Remote start
  • Remote door lock & unlock
  • Activate horn & lights

RemoteLink Key Fob will be free for five years, while the full suite of OnStar services remains available as part of the initial 6-month trial period or paid OnStar subscription. Additional RemoteLink services include:

  • Checking status of vehicle’s operating systems, including remaining oil life, fuel level range in miles, tire pressure, and miles per gallon
  • One-touch connection to an OnStar Advisor for a simple request or emergency need

RemoteLink Mobile App users with the Directions and Connections plan can also send Turn-by-Turn directions from their smartphone or computer directly to their vehicle.

In addition, the complete set of OnStar services includes:

  • 24/7 access to a live Advisor
  • Automatic Crash Response
  • Stolen Vehicle Assistance
  • Hands-Free Calling
  • Vehicle Diagnostics
  • Turn-by-Turn Navigation

General Motors and OnStar initially introduced RemoteLink for the Chevrolet Volt in 2010, creating the auto industry’s first mobile app. The mobile app is currently available for Apple’s iOS and Google Android devices, while BlackBerry and Windows Phone users can access the app’s features through a web app. As of this writing, RemoteLink app has been downloaded over 1.5 million times with more than 320,000 regular users.

GM’s announcement represents the broadest deployment of remote services offered through a mobile app by any auto manufacturer.

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Comments

  1. This is great,however, sucks if you are a 2011 owner who just wants to use it for when you lock your keys in your car. I am not going to pay 200 per year just to be able to unlock my car. For that price, I will call a tow truck.

    Before you flame me, I understand the OnStar service provides many more features, however, the only one I care about is this one and I’m not paying that much per year for it.

    Reply
    1. There is truth to what you say (I, too, can do without knowing how much fuel I have left and when my next oil change might be close). However, if / when you lock your keys in your car, you can always call OnStar for them to unlock your vehicle remotely.

      IF you must have an active subscription for OnStar to help you out in a jam, sign up for a month and then turn around and cancel it (that’s what I’ve read other people have done).

      Reply
    2. When my family – myself, wife, a 3 year old and an infant were stopped at a light, a drunk driver in a heavy-duty crew cab truck hit us doing 50 or more. The crash was severe to say the least.
      OnStar detected the crash and called. They were able to make sure two ambulances were sent instead of one. They showed up knowing our names and injuries. The drunk driver left the scene but the police knew about him before he had made it 100 yards. They contacted my wife’s parents who got to the hospital around the same time we did. They contacted my employer to let them know I wouldn’t be in to work later that night. They had the vehicle’s diagnostic sensor report which proved both my lack of movement and the impact speed which my lawyer used as evidence.
      This is what you pay OnStar for – and by the way they can unlock your car, too. (The location tracking and remote disable features also pay for about 1/2 the service with insurance discounts.)

      Reply
      1. Why do I need to pay $200+ a year for my car to call 911 when any, inactive or active, service cell phone will do the same? Shouldn’t the car just do that on airbag deploy?

        Reply
  2. What’s the G’MA take on this? I’m in the market for a new vehicle and truth be told this would have been a huge reson for me to buy the Directions and Connections plan. Don’t get me wrong — this is AWESOME for the consumer that its now included (for five years), but why give up five years of revenue?? Low adoption rates maybe? My father bought an SRX over a year ago and I was all excited to try it out on his car, but he could not care less about it and has never used it. Ploy maybe to bring in younger techies? Scratching my head here….

    Reply
  3. I think this offer is great. I’m pretty certain that I’m going to be getting a 2014 Denali, and having this app will be pretty sweet. But I also think this is another shot across Ford’s bow. Let’s be honest, way more peeps have been buying F-150’s and in order to swing the market you first have to make a better product and then you have to convince people to switch. now myself….I could never own a Ford, but for the less fanatical having this service as a sweetener could tip a sale.

    Reply
  4. I think this is a good move on GM’s part. I received 5 years of OnStar for free with the purchase of my 2011 Volt, but the most useful features are the simple key fob functions. I think this is a useful perk that will help GM stand out from its competitors.

    Side note…I used to LOVE using the Navigation portion of the app to find an address then send to my vehicle (I’d even use it when in the vehicle instead of using the nav system), but BING maps sucks so bad that I never use that feature any more. The executive that cut that back room deal should be fired.

    Reply
  5. The problem is, and they do not tell you, is that the actual list of models that use it, is very limited. Last time I checked, and I have a 2012 Vette, it was not available for my car, but was for the $11,000 cars…so that is a bummer. They should tell you which models up front before you download a worthless app.

    Reply
    1. What you say is true. I’ve read plenty of complaints from people who own new GM vehicles yet, the OnStar app is incompatible with their vehicle (or vice versa).

      Frankly, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t work on any GM vehicle equipped with OnStar.

      Reply
    2. I think its because your generation Vette didn’t have this particular OnStar functionality built in. Same thing with the current (read: soon to be old) generation Chevy/GM trucks and large SUVs. The Stingray and newer generation of trucks that have just debuted (and will soon debut) will have this available.

      Reply
  6. Sure wish they would come out with a Windows 8 phone version of the app. I hear they are talking about one but someone needs to do it quick, my wife and I just bought a 2014 Cruze today. Be nice to have these features.

    Reply
    1. The Window Phone app is NOW available !

      Reply
  7. So why can’t onstar add a cheaper service limited to key fob functions only. There are so many of us out there that do not want the full onstar service but would love to have the key fob functions

    Reply
  8. I own a 2014 Tahoe and I love the ap. I can start the vehicle from anywhere, check if my doors are locked, not have to worry about ever being locked out. Amazing!

    Reply
  9. So this app is a must have for people with there heads in their asses who can’t keep track of their keys…I see

    Reply
  10. I was told by my dealer that I would have remote link free for five years on my 2013 equinox which was a selling perk for me and turns out its only on the 2014 models and a onstar rep told me it was certain 2023 models but mine wasn’t one of them. I’m pissed about this!!!

    Reply

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