ON-Star Offers Real Time Traffic In 70 Cities

TROY, Mich., Oct. 17 -- OnStar becomes the first to offer location-based real-time traffic in 70 U.S. metropolitan areas through the hands-free, voice-activated OnStar Virtual Advisor service. OnStar subscribers in these cities can now get the traffic reports for their vehicle location by simply accessing the Virtual Advisor at the touch of a button. The traffic reports include accidents, congestion, travel delays, construction and weather-related delays and major events, and are provided by Tele Atlas Worldwide and Metro Networks, a Westwood One company. OnStar in June piloted the traffic feature in San Francisco, Phoenix and Detroit, and has steadily expanded across the country. The complete list of 70 cities includes:

Alabama * Birmingham

Arizona * Phoenix * Tucson

California * Fresno * Sacramento * San Diego * San Francisco * San Jose

Colorado * Colorado Springs * Denver

Connecticut * Hartford

Florida * Ft. Meyers * Jacksonville * Miami/Ft. Lauderdale * Orlando * West Palm Beach

Georgia * Atlanta

Illinois * Chicago

Indiana * Indianapolis

Kentucky * Louisville

Maryland * Baltimore

Massachusetts * Boston

Michigan * Detroit * Grand Rapids

Minnesota * Minneapolis/St. Paul

Missouri * Kansas City * St. Louis

Nebraska * Omaha

Nevada * Las Vegas

New Mexico * Albuquerque

New York * Albany * Buffalo * Long Island * New York * Rochester * Syracuse * Westchester

North Carolina * Charlotte * Greensboro * Raleigh

Ohio * Cincinnati * Cleveland * Dayton * Columbus

Oklahoma * Oklahoma City

Oregon * Portland

Pennsylvania * Allentown * Philadelphia * Pittsburgh * Harrisburg

Rhode Island * Providence

Tennessee * Memphis * Nashville

Texas * Austin * Dallas/Ft. Worth * Houston * San Antonio

Utah * Salt Lake City

Virginia * Norfolk/Virginia Beach * Richmond * Wilkes Barre

Washington * Seattle/Tacoma * Spokane

Wisconsin * Milwaukee

Washington, D.C.

"Until now, consumers have had to rely on local radio to provide their traffic updates, which occurs only at certain intervals, and is generally less than half of the events that actually occur. With Virtual Advisor, subscribers can get the traffic within a five-mile radius of their vehicle -- and they don't need to listen to the incidents that don't apply to them," said OnStar President Chet Huber. OnStar Virtual Advisor, which debuted in December and rolled out nationally in August, allows OnStar subscribers to access personalized, Internet-based information such as e-mail, stock quotes, sports reports, news, entertainment content, weather and traffic. The information is provided via voice activation through the vehicle's sound system, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. There are no screens or displays that potentially could distract the driver. Using OnStar's Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite receiver, subscribers are able to access traffic information based on the location of their vehicle, or a prescribed metropolitan area. And OnStar subscribers will soon be able to select their preferred driving routes on their "myOnStar" homepage on the Internet. In the vehicle, drivers access traffic information through Virtual Advisor simply by using voice commands. OnStar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors Corp. , uses GPS satellite technology and wireless communication to link the driver and vehicle to the 24-hour OnStar Center, where advisors provide real-time, personalized help. OnStar services include automatic air bag notification, stolen vehicle tracking, emergency services, remote door unlock, roadside assistance with location, remote diagnostics, route support, convenience services and concierge services. New services include OnStar Personal Calling, which allows drivers to make and receive phone calls in a completely hands-free, voice-activated manner through a powerful phone embedded in the vehicle, and Virtual Advisor, developed in conjunction with General Magic, Inc.