OnStar Personal Calling Reaches 200 Million Minute Mark

Troy, MI -- Two years after launching its hands-free Personal Calling service nationwide, OnStar has sold more than 200 million wireless minutes. This OnStar milestone demonstrates the increasing value OnStar subscribers place on their ability to make and receive hands-free phone calls while driving their vehicles. The OnStar Personal Calling feature also allows access to automated, real-time customized traffic and weather reports, and other helpful information simply by asking while driving.

Bill Ender, of Cypress, Calif., and owner of a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe, is a typical user of OnStar Personal Calling. Ender and a group of close friends found OnStar Personal Calling valuable on a recent fishing trip in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The group spent six days in a remote area about 10,000 feet above sea level and discovered they were unable to use their handheld wireless phones. And the nearest pay phone was 55 miles away.

Using his Tahoe’s 3-watt embedded OnStar Personal Calling phone, Ender was able to contact his wife back in Cypress without any problem. "Every time I used the OnStar phone service I was able to get right through to my family," said Ender. "My friends were really impressed and all used the service to call their families."

OnStar Personal Calling launched nationwide availability in August 2001. OnStar subscribers are currently purchasing about 14 million wireless minutes each month.

OnStar Personal Calling is offered as an enhanced, hands-free alternative to a handheld cell phone in the vehicle, and is an excellent phone service just in case:

A cell phone battery has run out

A driver forgets a cell phone or it isn’t safe to reach for it while operating the vehicle

A driver is in an area of weak cell phone signals

A driver needs to be on the phone for extended periods of time

A driver needs to be reached while in a vehicle.

OnStar’s powerful 3-watt embedded cellular phone and external antenna results in a connection more powerful than a standard portable from inside the vehicle. Also, OnStar Personal Calling can be used throughout the United States and Canada.

"We’re gratified by the tremendous growth we’re seeing in use of OnStar Personal Calling," said Chet Huber, OnStar President. "When our subscribers try OnStar Personal Calling, they discover how much simpler – and safer – it is to make a phone call while driving."

OnStar Personal Calling minutes are prepaid; there are no additional long distance or roaming charges, no long-term contracts or recurring monthly fees, and no extra equipment to purchase. Subscribers have a range of minutes packages to choose from – typically, a subscriber pays about $3.50 a month for in-vehicle phone access with OnStar Personal Calling. A comparison of OnStar Personal Calling to wireless carrier entry plans shows that OnStar provides superior value for individuals who use about 700 minutes a year.

New subscribers receive 30 trial minutes when they activate their OnStar service. Subscribers can purchase additional OnStar Personal Calling minutes day or night, any day of the week, simply by contacting OnStar. OnStar Personal Calling cards, offering 100 minutes for 2 months or 12 months, are also available through GM dealers and can be used to purchase OnStar Personal Calling minutes at any time.

OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the nation’s leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technology. OnStar is available on more than 50 GM models for 2004, as well as a range of models from Acura, Audi, Isuzu, Subaru and Volkswagen. OnStar services are also available on Lexus under the name Lexus Link. Other OnStar services include automatic notification of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle assistance, emergency services, roadside assistance with location, remote door unlock, remote diagnostics, route support, OnStar concierge and convenience services. More information about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com.