GM Infotainment Systems Ditch Text Messaging Feature
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GM infotainment systems have done away with built-in text-messaging functionality, replacing it instead with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The built-in text messaging functionality was introduced on GM’s second-gen Chevrolet MyLink, GMC and Buick IntelliLink and Cadillac CUE systems. It was capable of reading incoming text messages via the car’s speakers and provided the ability to reply with several pre-composed responses.
“The Message app has been removed from the App shop. Users can access their messages via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.” – Stephanie Lang of General Motors Advanced Technology Communications told GM Authority in a statement.
GM’s built-in text messaging feature was released at a time when neither Android Auto nor Apple CarPlay was available. As such, it provided a nice stopgap before the automotive infotainment interfaces from Google and Apple came to fruition.
Though GM’s solution was useful, it could be clunky at times by improperly reading a message, or simply providing very limited preconfigured responses when replying to a text. In that regard, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offer superior functionally when it comes to handling text messages.
The GM Authority Take
Like other carmakers, GM appears to be realizing that investing large amounts of money into its own infotainment systems isn’t necessarily worth it. After all, car buyers are clamoring for Android and Apple services, which not only work well, but also update themselves at the same rate as the vehicle owner’s phone – which is much faster than the rate at which a vehicle’s infotainment system is updated (if one is so lucky).
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I may be in the super minority but I do not want Google, AppleCar play or whatever Amazon comes up with. Especially not google in my car! Just give me a simple car interface that gives me performances pages like some dodge products, good speakers, a good media interface so I can plug in my Walkman or Ipod, and even a CD player which I still use daily. If I need to use my phone i’ll look it at when I can.
What is a Walkman?
Its a product/brand made by Sony that precedes the ipod. I like it because the new ones are for people who appreciate high end audio. For instance it can store all audio formats besides MP3. So formats such as wav. flac. etc for those that care about lossless audio.
I though a Walkman involved the use of something called a Cassette Tape.
I saw one in a museum next to something called a CD.
Well, you paid for it even if you don’t use it. But this thread is for people that bought it and WANT it. GM has, in their own world deemed it better to remove the built-in message app.
I don’t want Apple Player Android auto either what GM had 2018 was fine with me I do not want to hook a cable up to my truck and my phone this is 2021 not 1921 why is GM always going backwards they did it in 2005 with the rear brakes on their Silverados went back to drum brakes give the people what they want I’m a die-hard Chevrolet man but when they do something like this it makes me wonder if I shouldn’t go to someplace else
Bubba 662-509-2835
The infotainment system in the 2021 Encore is awful.
All the negative comments here are 100% accurate.
We had a 2018 Encore. You got in the damn car and phone linked with the system. Easy.
What ever engineer came up with this ought to be tared and feathered.
Note to GM. This is the LAST GM product we ever buy or lease! My wife and I are EXTREMELY unhappy about this “update”!!
SAME. I owned 2 Encores, no issues. UPGRADED to the GX, nothing but crap on connectivity.
I have a 2018 Ram that has it’s own phone system (independent of android auto, etc) and it works great! No issues! No need for me to download another app! Also, my Ram has an independent navigation system, which I love! Nothing like having to a) pay for an additional data plan to use Google on my GMC, or b) have unreliable navigation in bad cell service areas, or c) buy a standalone gps unit! I will not be buying another GMC, this is my first and last!
a portable CD player with a Aux jack for Headphones.
What is a Portable CD Player?
Some of the technical reasons for this change haven’t been discussed yet. First off, iOS doesn’t support the Bluetooth Message Access Profile (MAP) properly so the car (using the GM message app) can only read text messages on iPhones, not send them. So not a great user experience unless you have an Android phone. To top it off, the GM app doesn’t support the iMessage protocol so those won’t show up either.
Secondly the new standard that will replace them, RCS doesn’t have support in Bluetooth for it so it would require Android Auto or CarPlay to read/send.
So AA and CP offer a WAY better user experience and most people have either an Android or iPhone.
This seems like a smart move by GM although they could certainly communicate it better!
Only partially true. It notified you of a text message which you could tell it to read to you. Then if you “long pushed” the talk button on steering wheel it connected to Siri, which you could tell to text back. I hate that it is gone! If Apple car play was available without having to use a cord I would be ok with it. There are several issues with car play that I won’t get into here.
Only partially true. It notified you of a text message which you could tell it to read to you. Then if you “long pushed” the talk button on steering wheel it connected to Siri, which you could tell to text back. I hate that it is gone! I mean, how hard would it be for it to notify you that you have a text? It worked great in my 2017. If Apple car play was available without having to use a cord I would be ok with it. There are several issues with car play that I won’t get into here.
My solution, for now, is to use Android Auto, but I bought a magnetic connector so I do not have to plug it in every time. Just get this thing handy and it clicks right in to place. Android Auto does a good job but it is still the principle of buying something with a feature built-in and then 3 months later, they don’t even notify you, they just take it away.
My first GM in 20 years and guess what, it is my last. Although I doubt that anyone from GM is monitoring this thread 😉
What is the brand of magnetic connector you used?
Amazing how Ford and other brands have messaging that actually works.
Nissan has great text messaging features. Guess I will go back to Nissan.
My old MyLink infotainment/Nav in my ’12 Cruze sucks. The plug in USB rarely works for audio, and the maps are now fairly outdated. The SD card to update that costs $180, and I don’t even know how current that update is. In its defense it was pretty good at the time, but it’s age is showing now. As is the case with most of these tech features, so no surprise there.
We have Apple Carplay in our other car and it is great. It reads text messages so she isn’t distracted looking at them while driving. The Maps are also based off your phone and you have the option of Apple Maps (Sucks) or Google Maps, which we love. The Map is always updated, at no cost and will even alert us of traffic disruptions. I will definitely go for Car Play whenever I get my next vehicle (waiting for the Colorado refresh).
No issues with the ’14 MyLink. USB audio works great. Never had an issue with it. Just too bad it doesn’t support lossless. The navigation get the job done here in D.C. There aren’t that many new roads here where i feel i need to upgrade with newer maps. My only issue with that is the traffic prediction. Waze is much better at that.
I use the text messaging function all the time. Too bad the newer systems are eliminating that feature, but i understand the reasoning.
I actually stopped using the MyLink Nav a long time ago. For whatever reason the route planning was not good. I would compare long routes between Google Maps and MyLink, and Mylink had some head scratching decision making. Not to mention the process for setting up a destination can be quite a chore. Typing in addresses is a chore, especially when there are multiple names for certain towns/cities.
On my version, I can input the address verbally all in one go. Usually, If I know beforehand, i’ll use the onstar app to push it to my car.
If Apple and Google (and GM) want us to use CarPlay and Android Auto, why did they make it so you have to plug in a cord to get it to show on the screen? Talk about stuff from the 1800’s….that was stupid from day 1.
Tech limitation with the software when it was introduced. Some newer systems do not have this limitation.
I literally just had a new system installed in my Equinox, and I HAVE to plug in my phone for AA to even acknowledge there is a device available.
My 2020 is still plug in. 🙁
CarPlay requires a plug because of Apples software. AA technically does not require a plug, but it’s still the recommended way since the AA app and the various apps it works with simultaneously would drain the battery pretty quickly. I use AA on my Note through bluetooth with no issues. But I still plug in most of the time to make sure I am not draining the battery too much.
Wrong. CarPlay does not require a physical connection.
It works wirelessly too. GM just needs to implement it into its systems… which it hasn’t yet.
Why not use the simlle KISS requirment. Your cell gets a text, it announces it over the radio. Then it give u a vocal command to reply. Yes…. then reply.. no terminate text session. You have many phone systems in offices that have that voice to text. I had a ’14 then a ’16 both Denali model. Both had massive let downs. U cannot indiction charge the phone and were charged for the option. The texting use was very poor. The ’14 map was / had many errors. It once routed me 4 times in various routes trying to get to the destination. On the ’16 I just use google maps. Was the map update correct… no! On a freeway it kind of showed us running thru the desert! And trying to reroute us to non existent off ramps! I’m looking at a 2020.. but not sure. See how many let downs.
Chuck
How things change as people used to buy songs on CDs and movies on DVDs; but now everything is in cloud storage which means if you download your favorite songs or movies then save them for listening or viewing.
So, let me get this straight.
First they give us wireless charging and then take away apps that worked wirelessly and make us use an app that needs to be plugged in to work. So to use my messaging (SMS) I need to plug my phone in, activate Android Auto (In my case) and then select the app from there.
Oh that is so much better then just having an app for it built in NOT!
Sooo… I have a wireless charger in my 2019 Chevy Blazer, but have to plug into my USB in order to use the AA in order to receive my text?! Would someone, seriously, please tell.me what kind of thought process seemed this to make sense? I am genuinely curious, because at face value, that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. I am beyond disappointed with GM. I will not buy another GM vehicle.
So far out of touch in what features or options people really want in a new pick up truck it’s comical.
I have a 2019 Silverado and really loved the wireless capabilities, such as charging and receiving test messages, but now after an update I have to plug into the USB to get the text messages on the Infotainment system…..really going backwards. Whats next no more handsfree? No more jumping in the truck and placing the phone in the wireless charger and going, now have to plug in the phone to the USB and activate AA.
Giving me second thoughts on continuing to purchase GM products.
2019 Chevy Equinox. Can’t text unless you plug in! You have a wireless charging station. I DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO PLUG IN MY PHONE TO SEND A TEXT. Chevy went backwards with this. I will never buy another Chevy.
Put simple text messaging mack in without having to use Android Play.
I am with Anne. The ability to receive texts through my car was one of the features I needed due to me traveling daily for my job. Keeping your phone plugged in damages the phone battery and charging. I feel that we should have the option if we want. They told me that they removed it for safety purposes so we do not have to look at the screen. Well I am sorry but picking my phone up to read my messages are more of a concern. Yes the android auto is a good feature, however with me paying over 35k for my vehicle, I should be able to make that decision. If the manufactures are going to make my decisions for me, then they need to help me pay for the vehicle!! I am VERY upset at this. I Bought my car in December of 2018 and had this feature available and I used it daily. One day I go to leave for work and it is GONE.. Like I stated, I am very upset about this and will continue to past this on. They should have thought about the customers who fork billions of dollars a year into their line of vehicles. Asked their opinion.
This is so stupid !!! I agree with the other people who have posted ! I had a 2018 traverse and it read my texts to me. I traded it in a week ago, due to many many problems with it, and the 2020 traverse doesn’t read them !! What is the point of having the wireless charging if I have to plug my phone in ! GM YOU NEED TO LET YOUR CUSTOMERS DECIDE WHAT FUNCTIONS WE WANT !!! Very disappointed
I’m sooooooooo disappointed by this. I just bought a 2020 Sierra 2500HD, in large part because I was really impressed by the tech package. I’ve been driving Fords for the last 20 years, mostly because they had the tech edge. It never once occurred to me that GM might take this feature away – what a terrible decision. Like many others have said, what’s the point of taking up all that real estate with the wireless charging pad if I have to plug my phone in to know when a text message has come through?! I don’t even necessarily need to hear it or reply to it, but I won’t get a notification at all with my Samsung Galaxy Note 9 if Bluetooth is connected, so Android Auto is my only option if I don’t want to accidentally blow off text messages every time I’ve been in the car. Really wish I’d known about this before I signed for the $70,000 loan… Shame on you GM.
I also agree Just bought a 2020 Equinox and I dont want to have to plug my phone in every single time I get in and out of my car. I charge my phone 1 time a day and thats it! What was wrong with the feature that showed that you received a text message on your screen?? that is a hell of a lot better then having to plug your phone in and seeing the message on your screen and fiddling with it. I also dont wanna have to download another app in order to just read my texts in the car, seems silly!! I hope that there is a solution to this in the near future. GM fix this issue!!!!
Cant receive text messages unless plugged in….WOW!! brand new 2019 loaded GMC and I cant get a text, not does it allow my phone to alert me when I receive one. Truck is up for Sale
Funny thing is, my system did a reset the other day and voila, messaging was back … then it was gone again. So it is there but disabled by GM. Sad but true.
Was in our 2019 Chevy Equinox at time of purchase and there was an update to the car and after that the texting icon disappeared. I would like a refund for GM taking it back. Even though its software it was there when I paid for the vehicle, what gives them the right to remove it without asking me first.
Have you agree with the majority. Very inconvenient not having the text reading feature. Wouldn’t be so bad if Android and apple app connected through bluetooth, but seems a big convenience is lost. Perhaps some safety as many will be fishing out cables and plugging in phones rather than paying attention to the road.
YES! How is having to LOOK AT YOUR PHONE TO SEE A TEXT WHILE DRIVING in 2021 not a safety issue?