GM has just announced that OnStar
with turn-by-turn navigation will be standard on many 2007 GM cars, and will come with a full year free subscription. Snippet: “By adding the competitively-priced OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation to more than 2 million vehicles for 2007, GM will significantly increase the number of factory-installed navigation systems on North American roads,” said Mark LaNeve, General Motors North America vice president, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. “In addition to the volume increase, GM also will offer the most navigation options across more vehicle segments and price ranges than our competitors.”
More info here .
ateixeira says:
06:48 AM, 08/31/06
You heard it here first - this will FAIL.
I have a GPS, and a huge part of the appeal is VISUAL. You have to see the map, to know how the roads bend and see the distance to the next turn.
I just don't see how some voice commands from an OnStar employee can match that. It's not even half as good.
Not to mention it will cost OnStar a fortune to have enough people on the phone to give directions to 2 million subscribers. That's crazy.
This will flop so hard it might take OnStar to bankruptcy. The idea is just hugely stupid.
steve_ says:
07:37 AM, 08/31/06
It sounds like the operator takes the destination from the driver and then has the computer at GM send the directions to the driver through the car stereo.
I suppose this might appeal to drivers uncomfortable with running an in-car nav system, but the gadget literacy gap is closing fast.
Imagine the repeated button pushing when the nav system tells you to proceed down a one-way street the wrong way or tries to send you on a road that's closed for construction, as current in-car nav systems are wont to do.
rsholland says:
07:45 AM, 08/31/06
I think it's a good idea because (A) it will introduce many customers to the benefits of GPS-NAV. These are people who likely would never consider such a "gimmick;" and (B) because of this, will likely force other carmakers to come up with similar (or better) systems—on a mass scale—and much sooner than it might normally occur.
rsholland says:
08:16 AM, 08/31/06
"The simplicity of OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation allows a consumer to talk to a live advisor, who in turn sends complete step-by-step directions to the customer’s vehicle through their OnStar system. Audio directions are then automatically played through the vehicle’s stereo as they are needed, triggered by the OnStar system’s GPS capabilities."
I agree, this could cause an enormous bottleneck.
Even so, by GM taking this step, I think this will speed up the availability of GPS units on other cars.
roar02ram says:
08:36 AM, 08/31/06
Eh, I agree, the nav thing is shaky...but on the other hand, if you're someone who hates touch screens and their lack of tactile feedback (like me) or is unwilling to fork over the $2000 average price of a factory nav system (again like me), then this could be a very good (and safer) alternative to either memorizing the route or driving with a map on the steering wheel.
ateixeira says:
08:25 AM, 09/ 1/06
This might make a novice more willing to try it out, but I just don't think it will work well enough for them.
One key feature that I can't imagine would work is automatic re-routing, which happens on almost every trip I take.