Wednesday, May 19, 2010

GM's Onstar will tap Google to Guide Chevy Volt



General Motors Co.'s OnStar telematics unit is bringing Google mobile navigation technology into the car.

Chevrolet Volt drivers whose smartphones use Google's Android operating system will be able to use their phones to pinpoint their vehicle's location on Google Maps. They can then request a destination by speaking it into the phone, and have the desired destination sent directly to the car.

OnStar would then guide the driver to the destination using turn-by-turn spoken directions.

The new feature builds on a Volt smartphone application that OnStar announced in January. The previously announced application offers mobile control of battery charging, remote locking and unlocking of doors, and other features.

The application will be available when the Volt plug-in hybrid launches in the fall. It works on the Motorola Droid, which is an Android phone, as well as on Blackberry Storm and the Apple iPhone. The new navigation “tab” will debut later and is only for Android phones.

Industry observers believe GM will extend the smartphone functions beyond the Volt.

A senior analyst with the research firm Strategy Analytics called the development a daring, but revolutionary move for OnStar. He said GM's objective is to eventually allow third-party applications to run on OnStar.

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