OnStar by GM Gives Users Aid in the Midst of Crisis
01 Juni 2006 - 4:23PM
PR Newswire (US)
Enhances Emergency Assistance Capabilities DETROIT, June 1
/PRNewswire/ -- Subscribers of OnStar by GM know that help in
crisis situations is only a button press away. During previous
periods of severe weather, OnStar has extended to subscribers all
services such as contact with loved ones, driving directions, or
assistance with hotel reservations. This year, OnStar will bring
emergency assistance to the next level to help subscribers who are
in severe weather or other crises. Only OnStar by GM provides this
unique combination of services. When facing a severe weather
evacuation there are a lot of things on people's minds -- boarding
up their homes, getting provisions ready and ensuring children and
pets are ready to go. This doesn't always leave time for keeping up
with the status of the evacuation routes and arranging shelter
before leaving home. Recent technology and information upgrades
enhance OnStar advisors' ability to provide critical information
and services to subscribers affected by severe weather, natural
disasters and civil emergencies. In the case of a wide-scale
emergency, such as a hurricane, calls from the affected areas will
be routed to a select group of advisors to help streamline the
sharing of the most up-to-date information. "OnStar receives
regular updates of severe weather warnings and natural disasters
across the United States as well as certain civil emergencies and
evacuation alerts," said Scott Kubicki, director, OnStar Subscriber
Services. "This information is provided to our advisors to help
keep subscribers in the impacted areas informed of things like
evacuation routes and emergency shelters." The hurricanes and other
severe weather of 2005 provided OnStar with information that has
helped them prepare for this year's hurricane season. "The
information that we share with the advisors has been upgraded as a
result of the lessons we learned during last year's hurricane
season," said Kubicki. "We took the information that our
subscribers requested most frequently and have helped ensure we can
get the right information to our advisors and subscribers when they
need it." For example, during Hurricane Wilma, 20 percent of calls
in Florida were for route assistance, 14 percent were to contact a
relative and 11 percent were to make hotel reservations. When
serious weather situations impact its subscribers, OnStar opens its
services to all affected subscribers regardless of the service
plans they have. OnStar's capabilities include: * OnStar's embedded
cellular calling system and Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellite technology allow OnStar advisors to pinpoint a
subscriber's location when they contact an advisor. If crisis
services are needed, the advisor can contact the emergency
responders and direct them to the subscriber's location. * Advisors
will have access to up-to-date information for things such as road
closures, power outages and weather updates. * OnStar will offer
detailed information on shelters and other lodging that will
include if the locations are pet friendly. * OnStar encourages its
subscribers to contact an advisor whenever they witness someone
with an emergency need, so that they can inform appropriate public
safety officials of the location of the incident. * Subscribers can
get OnStar advisor assistance to link them with relatives and
friends. * Subscribers who have in-vehicle, hands-free calling
service can use it as an alternative means of staying connected if
they are without power in their homes or cannot recharge their cell
phone batteries. The best defense in a crisis of any kind is to be
prepared. OnStar encourages its subscribers to follow the U.S.
government's recommendations for preparing for crisis situations.
In addition, OnStar recommends that subscribers have Hands-Free
Calling minutes on their account and provide family and friends
with their in-vehicle phone number to help them stay connected if
an emergency should arise. About OnStar by GM OnStar, a wholly
owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the nation's leading
provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services
using wireless technology and the Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellite network. OnStar is available on more than 50 GM models
for 2006. Over the next few years, OnStar Service will become a
standard feature for one year for nearly all of GM's retail
customers in the United States and Canada, covering all segments
and prices except for some commercial vehicles and the Chevrolet
Aveo. OnStar safety and security services include automatic
notification of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle location
assistance, emergency services, roadside assistance, remote door
unlock, and GM Goodwrench remote vehicle diagnostics. OnStar
Hands-Free Calling allows drivers to make and receive hands-free,
voice-activated calls from their vehicle. Hands-free calling
requires a Hands-Free Calling Enabled Vehicle, existing OnStar
service contract and prepaid calling minutes. More information
about OnStar can be found at http://www.onstar.com/ . DATASOURCE:
General Motors Corporation CONTACT: Cristi Chojnacki,
+1-313-667-0874, or Renee Rashid-Merem, +1-313-665-2790, , both of
OnStar Web site: http://media.gm.com/ http://www.gm.com/
http://www.onstar.com/
Copyright