Bluetooth solutions
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 8
From: San Francisco Bay Area California
Ever try listening to your voicemail with the built in
phone? Probably not because there is no keypad to dial in a numeric password/ code! I called up and was told since I had Verizon service on my cell phone I had to sign up for a Family Plan. A little detail they left out was that by doing that they'd add a year to my contract and that I'd have to wait a year to take advantage of the New Every Two cell phone upgrade... My father bought a Merc CLS a month ago... they do it right... BT built in... dial pad on the dash! Come on GM! As for pinching pennies, I'm paying for a (car) phone I haven't used in 2 months! A real cheap skate! My Moto T505 also has verbal caller I.D.! OnStar...Not!
phone? Probably not because there is no keypad to dial in a numeric password/ code! I called up and was told since I had Verizon service on my cell phone I had to sign up for a Family Plan. A little detail they left out was that by doing that they'd add a year to my contract and that I'd have to wait a year to take advantage of the New Every Two cell phone upgrade... My father bought a Merc CLS a month ago... they do it right... BT built in... dial pad on the dash! Come on GM! As for pinching pennies, I'm paying for a (car) phone I haven't used in 2 months! A real cheap skate! My Moto T505 also has verbal caller I.D.! OnStar...Not!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,824
Likes: 3
From: The left Coast
St. Jude Donor '08
I would love to use the built in phone -- I don't understand why GM would tie it into limited and/or expensive service. I already have the family plan with AT&T. Also, I just bought my wife a Nissan Altima Hybrid and it has built in bluetooth--GM is way behind the eight ball on this.
Unfortunately the onstar phone only works with verizon and we have t-mobile. Onstar contacted me today and offered me 130 prepaid minutes for $14.95 so I took the deal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 8
From: San Francisco Bay Area California
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Orange California
I purchased this unit at costco and love it. Works great, easy to use and clear quality w/ large led readouts. When & if 2009 GM unit is avail. to add to 08 will take a look.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 792
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
At the C5/C6 Bash at the NCM in late April we were told that the '09 bluetooth setup was NOT backward compatible. Harlen George (GM exec) told us it would be easier "to buy an 09" than to retrofit bluetooth into the earlier C6s.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Reno NV
I just put the Parrot 3100 in my '05 Coupe and it works great. Ordered the plug-and-play wiring harness so I didn't have to splice into any wires and installed the controll unit in the ashtray space with plenty of room to close to access door. Voice commands work well, and the quality on both ends of the call is really good.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 945
Likes: 1
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Reno NV
OnStar is great for remote areas where cell reception is bad but if you're in your car a lot and need to be able to take calls, bluetooth definitely seems like the safest solution.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
Yes, I have mine. You have to 1) spend money on OnStar in addition to the phone you already have 2) be forced to utilize Verizon if you don't want to pay a small fortune for it 3) have very limited features available (like caller ID).
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
I believe that. I bought a Cadillac CTS about a month before bluetooth was offered in the car. The way it works is that its part of a new version of the OnStar module that is apparently not backward compatible.
I'd sure like to see GM offer a solution for previous cars. Given that the microphone and speakers already are in the car, it would seem like they could come up with a system that is plug and play. I'm willing on paying for it!
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 599
Likes: 13
From: Gainesville Georgia
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 5
From: Nevada
I believe that. I bought a Cadillac CTS about a month before bluetooth was offered in the car. The way it works is that its part of a new version of the OnStar module that is apparently not backward compatible.
I'd sure like to see GM offer a solution for previous cars. Given that the microphone and speakers already are in the car, it would seem like they could come up with a system that is plug and play. I'm willing on paying for it!
You are right about the OnStar. Looks like the widespread 2009 GM Bluetooth is part of the new OnStar 8.0 And if GM holds true to form it may be prohibitive to upgrade existing cars to the new OnStar version, even if they already have OnStar.
The biggest problem will be retroing Onstar 8.0 (where Bluetooth will be contained for the vast majority of 2009 GM vehicles) into the vehicle. If this can be accomplished, then the steering wheel buttons to control the OnStar would have to be addressed, whether ultimately located on the steering wheel or not.
Based upon CTS Bluetooth/Onstar operation, you would use the steering wheel buttons to activate the onboard Onstar module, then select "Handsfree" by voice for Bluetooth.
So initial reports that the new Bluetooth may not be usable on existing cars for unknown reasons will likely turn out to be correct. Hope somebody can come up with a sensible crack for this one, but doesn't seem too likely.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,162
Likes: 114
From: Prosper, TX
You are right about the OnStar. Looks like the widespread 2009 GM Bluetooth is part of the new OnStar 8.0 And if GM holds true to form it may be prohibitive to upgrade existing cars to the new OnStar version, even if they already have OnStar.
The biggest problem will be retroing Onstar 8.0 (where Bluetooth will be contained for the vast majority of 2009 GM vehicles) into the vehicle. If this can be accomplished, then the steering wheel buttons to control the OnStar would have to be addressed, whether ultimately located on the steering wheel or not.
Based upon CTS Bluetooth/Onstar operation, you would use the steering wheel buttons to activate the onboard Onstar module, then select "Handsfree" by voice for Bluetooth.
So initial reports that the new Bluetooth may not be usable on existing cars for unknown reasons will likely turn out to be correct. Hope somebody can come up with a sensible crack for this one, but doesn't seem too likely.
The biggest problem will be retroing Onstar 8.0 (where Bluetooth will be contained for the vast majority of 2009 GM vehicles) into the vehicle. If this can be accomplished, then the steering wheel buttons to control the OnStar would have to be addressed, whether ultimately located on the steering wheel or not.
Based upon CTS Bluetooth/Onstar operation, you would use the steering wheel buttons to activate the onboard Onstar module, then select "Handsfree" by voice for Bluetooth.
So initial reports that the new Bluetooth may not be usable on existing cars for unknown reasons will likely turn out to be correct. Hope somebody can come up with a sensible crack for this one, but doesn't seem too likely.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,610
Likes: 12
I have a Plantronics Explorer 300 Series Bluetooth headpiece ($70) but driving w/ the top down at speed sound poor. Forwarding to the OnStar phone works better.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 4
From: Massapequa NY
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 758
Likes: 1
From: Lincoln California
I bought one. I returned it the next day. While I was in line, there were 3 other people returning thiers too. The girl behind the counter said, 72 were already returned. At least Costco has a great return policy.
