OnStar Available On All Cars Sunday

OnStar's exclusive arrangement with General Motors (GM) comes to an end Sunday, when the OnStar For My Vehicle (FMV) goes on sale at Best Buy stores.

The company's first out-of-the-box device can work as an after-market product on 90 million older vehicles of all types, the company said. With the controls mounted in the rear view mirror, the existing mirror in cars will simply be replaced with the OnStar device.

The OnStar FMV will sell for $299.99 plus $75 for installation. Service plans start at $18.95 a month.

"The wait is over," said OnStar President Linda Marshall. "Since we announced OnStar FMV at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, thousands of people have signed up to be notified when this innovative product is ready to buy. Now, through Best Buy, they can enhance their Fords, Toyotas, Chryslers and other brands with the power of OnStar."

Security and navigation

OnStar provides security and navigation services using both cellular and GPS technology. Consumers familiar with OnStar radio and television commercials know the service reacts to accidents and summons help and can remotely unlock a vehicle when a driver locks their keys inside.

The process, however, is apparently not as simple as it sounds in the commercials. Consumers have complained of security measures that they say can slow the process of opening a car door or tracking a stolen vehicle.

The company faced a class action suit last year from angry consumers who lost their OnStar service in 2008, when the company stopped supporting analog receivers.

Launched at a time before nearly everyone carried a cell phone, OnStar has promoted the “security” and “peace of mind” aspects of its service from the beginning. Company officials say it continues to offer things cell phones can't, including Automatic Crash Response, which connects the driver to an OnStar operator in the event of a crash.

In addition, it provides services also offered by smartphones, including turn-by-turn navigation and hands-free calling.

Does GM mind losing OnStar exclusivity? Apparently not. OnStar is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the carmaker.