GM-OnStar Reveals 4G LTE Rollout Details, Pricing Starts At $5 Per Month

The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu will be the first General Motors product available with OnStar 4G LTE capability. It will be followed by 30 more models from Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC by the end of the year.

As the industry’s broadest rollout of 4G LTE technology, owners of General Motors vehicles equipped with OnStar will be able to experience built-in Wi-Fi hotspot capability (capable of connecting up to seven devices without draining a mobile device’s battery, no less), as well as improved access to the usual OnStar safety and security services. There is no more capable in-vehicle safety and connectivity system available, according to GM.

“Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac will be the first vehicle brands to market with 4G LTE connectivity offered on such a broad scale, and we’re excited to give millions of customers an opportunity to explore the technology without paying extra for a data plan for three months or three gigabytes,” said OnStar President Mary Chan. “Later this year, we will begin to offer data plans and our customers will be able to connect for as little as $5 per month.”

Notably, customers will have 3 GB or 3 Months, whichever comes first, to try out the Wi-Fi hotspot capability for free. Users are able to connect laptops, smartphones, video game consoles, or tablets and hook up to the Internet right in their car. Considering that 74 percent of tablets sold this year will be Wi-Fi only (meaning they lack a 3G or 4G radio), and as many as 91 percent in North America will be used with Wi-Fi as their only connection (meaning no cellular plan), according to Strategy Analytics, this is great news for those who rely on being connected.

Drivers who subscribe to OnStar Safe & Sound or Directions & Connections plans already get a comprehensive suite of safety and security services and, for $5 more per month, they will be able to get 200 megabytes of data, enough to stream more than 6.5 hours of music, surf the internet for 13 hours, or send more than 10,000 emails without attachments. For existing AT&T customers, a 4G LTE-equipped GM vehicle can be added to a Mobile Share Plan for $10 per month.

“OnStar with 4G LTE is embedded into the vehicle, meaning customers get simple connectivity for not only a Wi-Fi hotspot, but also improved access to traditional OnStar services like vehicle diagnostics, remote vehicle access, and others. Our customers will also have easy-to-understand data plans to let them tailor a connected car experience around each owner’s lifestyle,” added Chan.

OnStar 4G LTE Monthly Plans

OnStar 4G LTE One-Time Purchase Plans