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.
Very disappointing!
Very disappointed and sad! One of the reasons I liked and subscribed to onstar!
We used OnStar phone when we’r were on the road and our cell phones wouldn’t work. It’s a safety connection that we’ll miss. We’ve had OnStar since 2012.
This is a HUGE MISTAKE for GM to make this decision. Not everyone has a smartphone. OnStar HFC is much more reliable than a cell phone; it reaches areas where cell phones don’t. This is why I bought a GM car.
I agree with Frank. This is a HUGE mistake, as OnStar HFC is mush more reliable than a cell phone in remote areas. I have purchased GM vehicles for that reason since HFC was made available. I am very disappointed with GM for this decision.
Good Riddance. Never worked well during a heavy rainstorm. I did not use the service for a month when I was laid up due illness, then I needed for an important call but the system blocked me because my prepaid minutes had expired! On Star said I could have my minutes back if I bought more! Felt cheated and robbed. That’s when I cancelled and bought a cell phone.
I am disappointed because I love the peace of mind know that if my phone was stolen, lost, or disabled, I can make a phone call in my Suburban. I am so bothered that it even crossed my mind to cancel. I don’t know what I should do.
Noooo! The hfc is a life saver when you are in areas with spotty or no service! This is one of the reasons I bought my Buick. If I have no cell service I know I have the HFC to make emergency calls if I need to. Please reconsider and keep this feature.
typical GM ! have it in my saab and wanted to get the directions but they stopped it. dumb move they are making $ and customers want it ! go to blazes GM ! you are idiots !
This is a bad idea.. I depend on that contact to call for help when my own phone won’t work… please don’t do this
Very disappointed on loosing that option. I have used it in emergency when my phone had no signal
This is a decision made by men in suits sitting behind desks who probably don’t drive themselves anymore. They’re to inept and out of touch with the common man’s needs. Sadly there are endless number of places where I don’t get a cell signal. If I or any customer gets in an accident and have no cell signal any injuries above and beyond the accident are now payable by the party that turned off the lifeline. You’re playing with people’s lives but who cares nobody who makes a difference is going to read these anyway. Just Big Corp screwing the little guy once again.
Few if any of senior leadership have drivers any longer. I do remember those days. A lot of those guys were able to so familiarize themselves with GM leadership doing that earlier in their careers they greased the wheels for them to have a very long and productive GM career. That’s how it worked back in the day.
I don’t have a cell phone, so I rely on hands free calling for emergencies Please keep it
Cell phones have become so commonplace and inexpensive hard to believe you don’t have one, if for nothing else the peace of mind of staying in communication. As far as GM changing their decision on this, I’d say that is highly unlikely. Once they have made a decision it is akin to Ramses II saying So let it be written, So let it be done!
My husband uses OnStar exclusively because he does not want a cell phone. Please reconsider this decision.
18 September 2020
I agree with those who have not been very happy about the VERY variable seemingly fluctuating high cost of subscribing for OnStar. I have been an avid long time user of OnStar HFC since year 1990 and never received a decent recognition of lower annual pricing thru, for example, a loyalty recognition plan of sorts from OnStar. That is, my opinion, a sad and poor business practice. Further, although I have been using OnStar since year 1990….to date 30 years, OnStar emails show me as a member since year 2010!! My writing to OnStar multiple times to request OnStar, for sake of accurate record keeping, pride in customer retention and principal of customer recognition, correct my membership to year 1990 has not been honored. NOW, putting all the latter aside, here are my thoughts about DISCONTINUANCE of OnStar: Plans to discontinue OnStar HFC circa 2022 is a terrible, terrible selfish mistake by the Provider. Clearly, the safety OnStar HFC brings forth to a vehicle’s occupant…a person using OnStar while DRIVING, is truly second to none. It beats the mess of setting up some form of SmartPhone array in vehicle dealing with viewing the typical SMALL screen of a SmartPhone when necessary, no matter the model, builds into a negative safety factor for the user. Even if using a voice recognition SmartPhone array, nothing beats the presence of simply pushing a button on steering wheel or mirror to reach OnStar or, the audible quality and volume control afforded by OnStar: … simply put, the fact that basically you just simply don’t need to play around with a SmartPhone system to make a “phone call” while driving is major level convenient and safe!. Further, and especially so, the loss of navigation via OnStar verbal instructions instead of looking at vehicle’s navigation screen is shameful, as would be loss of accident alert–as in air bag deployment or simply having ability to call for assistance via OnStar…if system still working, when in a vehicular accident / mishap if conscious and able to speak. Finally, multiple times, “my” OnStar signal & a connection has been overly successful in “getting out” in mountainous areas wherein handheld cell phone failed…as in no signal available. This type situation for me has clearly presented many times as my State of residence presents mountainous areas or semi-rural to very rural areas with no handheld cell phone connection vs. OnStar….with signal reliably getting out for routine or emergency level calls. Discontinue OnStar HFC?? Again, a -SHAMEFUL & SELFISH DECISION! ====================================================================
I am very disappointed regarding on Star . I rely on it being alone in a car and always having hands free calling and if disabled getting whatever fixed. A bad decision to us when we paid for this all these years. Nobody cares about people today. Discuss ing.
I am paying $24.99 per month and never use it. Is there a cheaper plan I can get??
Believe it is a big mistake ….it probaly saves accident and maybe even death by allowing the driver to keep his eyes on their driving instead of fumbling around for your phone to see if it is worth answering .