OnStar Hands-Free Calling Will Be Sunset in 2022
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With the proliferation of smartphones, some in-vehicle technology features are going the way of the dodo. The latest victim is the OnStar Phone feature, also known as Hands-Free Calling, which is slated for official retirement in just a few years’ time.
According to GM Authority sources, General Motors plans to sunset the OnStar Hands-Free Calling service in 2022. At that point, all vehicles on the road still equipped with the feature will no longer have the ability to make calls using the OnStar Hands-Free Calling system.
Last year, we exclusively broke the news that General Motors was discontinuing the OnStar Phone Feature. At the time, we spoke with Stephanie Lang, General Motors’ Advanced Technology Communications, OnStar and Connectivity representative, who indicated that GM would discontinue HFC for 2020 model year and newer vehicles.
OnStar HFC was first made available in the late ‘90s, arriving as the industry’s first built-in calling feature provided by an automaker. HFC is separate from the Bluetooth-based hands-free calling system that connects to a smartphone, and is operated primarily through the infotainment screen, or with voice recognition commands. Users could originally purchase minutes through OnStar, and each vehicle was assigned it’s own unique phone number.
Arriving prior to the proliferation of smartphones, and indeed before the proliferation of cell phones in general, the OnStar Hands-Free Calling system was ahead of its time. Even now, with widespread smartphone adoption, the system remains useful for those who prefer not to have a smartphone, but still want to make phone calls on the move.
Unfortunately, the system is now headed for retirement. However, it’s important to note that the Hands-Free Calling feature uses the vehicle’s built-in OnStar system and model, and that Bluetooth smartphone connections, as well as the various features of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, will continue to be available as they are now.
Are you disappointed to learn about the retirement of OnStar HFC? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more OnStar news and ongoing GM news coverage.
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I’m disappointed to lose my HFC. I’m in my 70s and that’s all I had to use. I sure hope you might be able to figure something out.
Not sure I will remain an ONSTAR customer. I live where there is no cell service. In power losses, I depended on this feature to contact others. It was the primary ONSTAR draw for me.
OnStar uses the cellular network. It has for decades Jody.
Yes that is true they also had a stronger wattage transmitter that gave the illusion that it worked where there was no signal. GM did not upgrade their equipment over the years so in March 2022 when 3G was eliminated, GM did not want to be bothered to upgrade existing equipment. So if you bought a 2019 GM vehicle you were getting 2010 cell phone technology and GM doesn’t think the revenue stream for HFC is worth installing new equipment
is there a class action lawsuit against them? If so where can I join!!!! Not just disappointed!!
I’m very disappointed to say the least… as I left my mobile at home and was running late for a meeting and went to use my HFC OnStar, and hit the button to get the OnStar operator to find out there is NO MORE HFC which sucked. Needless to say,
I really could have used that feature that day. :((((( gerrrrrrrr
I don’t get it…. what am I missing here?