[MaxSmart]

I was excited to find out I could add my car to my AT&T wireless plan for just $10 a month - then I realized, what is the point? Why should we pay $10 to use the same pool of data that our phone is pulling from? It's not like the car has a web browser or email app or streams Netflix - its only purpose is to act as an antenna booster for the phone. I could see why they'd charge you a setup fee, but why should we pay an ongoing fee to use what is essentially just an antenna booster for a smartphone?

 

[trm2]

You could use a tablet or laptop.

 

[firehawk72]

It depends on your needs and wants. I have found it very useful. You want to use Android Auto to benefit from this. And as you said, you get a boosted signal and unlimited data if you pay the $20 bucks a month. Some people pay a small fortune for unlimited data, my wife and I actually use Tracfone and save a fortune over the unlimited data plans out there. Also, the boosted signal is a big plus in many areas. Pretty simple though, if you don't see a need for it, don't pay for it.

 

[supchrgamx]

dropped my data becouse my cell phone had better reception in the car then the car had

 

[firehawk72]

dropped my data becouse my cell phone had better reception in the car then the car had

I can easily see this being true depending on where you live and the coverage of that area. Where I live, Verizon is clearly best, but even having said that, I don't have any coverage at my house except through OnStar's boosted signal (no carrier has coverage at my home). Now, the WiFi, in the Chevy's use AT&T and I don't have WiFi in my lane from Chevy Volt. I can't use the WiFi in my car in my lane, but I can make a phone call using OnStar.

 

[tdwilbert2]

I use it with my Echo Dot. Very convenient...

 

[llninja]

You could use a tablet or laptop.

To use a tablet or laptop in the car, I just Bluetooth tether to my phone as a personal hotspot. I don't see the point of paying and extra $10 to have the car be the hotspot.

 

[RFE]

When I did my update my phone and looked into making my phone a hotspot, that cost extra. I forget how much as it was over two years ago. I figured it was not worth it for the cost at the time. I am with AT&T

How many tablets or laptops can you connect to your phone at one time and not slow down? Then how many can you hook to the car. Example: Two kids and the wife on tablets and texting on their phones and you on your phone. That is at least seven devices.

It might be worth it depending on usage. If it is just you on a phone or computer may be not.

 

[geoffeg]

Onstar has a 20GB for 12 months plan at $150. That comes out to $7.50/GB, $2.50/GB cheaper than my $10/GB phone plan.

 

[Bacardi]

There are many reasons but the biggest advantage is for your passengers...Secondary use if you use a lot of data for whatever reason, often is the case for those who travel within a business territory...Nexflix did release a way for iPhone/Droid users to download limited Netflix content for offline viewing which could have been a factor for GM to offer a very affordable unlimited plan unlike before...

for LTE is offered on most if not all GM passenger vehicles, so do not think someone in GM management said the words "ah ha! Let's take away homelink and powerseats in favor of giving the Volt wifi"...

The original low-data rates were awful, the newer unlimited rates are so much more attractive...

 

[Shivetya]

I found every offering Onstar/Data/Etc to be incredibly over priced to the point I just told them to take a hike on day one. The issue I have with a car data plan is that I am not around/in my car that often. Plus most devices can have their on cellular plan or slave to my phone.

 

[MaxSmart]

I found every offering Onstar/Data/Etc to be incredibly over priced to the point I just told them to take a hike on day one. The issue I have with a car data plan is that I am not around/in my car that often. Plus most devices can have their on cellular plan or slave to my phone.

I felt the same way... the feature to locate where I parked my car was awesome, but not worth $30 a month or whatever they quoted me for the package that includes this. I just have the remote start/status now, which I guess I get for free for many years. I would pay a monthly fee if the value were there, but it just isn't for what OnStar offers. Every offering is bundled with many features I don't need, driving up the cost to where I say no thanks.

If they offered me vehicle locator + internet with some data + basic remote/status features + 911, I would pay. But I dont want to pay $$$ because the package includes navigation (Google Maps is free and better) or concierge services etc.

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

 

[jakesterpdx]

I doubt this will apply to many folks, but for what it's worth, the trial data plan actually came in extremely handy on my trip from the us into canada. i was able to activate it just before the trip, then leave my phone in airplane mode and use the car's data plan for looking up yelp reviews and even for wifi-calling. but after the trial expired and i returned to the us, I also never found a need for it again.

 

[Taser54]

I was excited to find out I could add my car to my AT&T wireless plan for just $10 a month - then I realized, what is the point? Why should we pay $10 to use the same pool of data that our phone is pulling from? It's not like the car has a web browser or email app or streams Netflix - its only purpose is to act as an antenna booster for the phone. I could see why they'd charge you a setup fee, but why should we pay an ongoing fee to use what is essentially just an antenna booster for a smartphone?

you are not using the same pool of data as your phone. You switch your phone to the car's Wi-Fi hotspot.

 

[MaxSmart]

you are not using the same pool of data as your phone. You switch your phone to the car's Wi-Fi hotspot.

If you are an At&t customer you can add the car for $10 a month, but even if you buy the $20 stand alone unlimited package, why wouldnt you just spend the $20 getting a higher-data plan for your phones, which can be used anywhere, not just in the car?

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

 

[bro1999]

If you are an At&t customer you can add the car for $10 a month, but even if you buy the $20 stand alone unlimited package, why wouldnt you just spend the $20 getting a higher-data plan for your phones, which can be used anywhere, not just in the car?

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

The car's LTE antenna is about 5-6x stronger than a cell phone's antenna (don't want to give people brain cancer!), so if you are in areas with a crappy cell signal, having the car's LTE connection/wifi would be beneficial.

 

[skiflyer]

I don't need it either, but it makes sense for plenty of people. Think kids streaming video on tablets or road warriors using their laptops. It beats the cell phone hotspot for most phones, and no carriers with unlimited data allow that data to be used with no limitations on hotspot mode unless you tweak your phone.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[Off Oil]

Red paint on a car, whats the point?!

Like everything else, it's a good option only if it's useful to you. For the 20k+ miles I'm going to be driving a year, it adds a secondary provider ( I don't have AT&T) and a better signal. I've kept ALL the available services for my use case.

 

[VE2 Volt]

OnStar data is extremely slow. My cellphone is WAY faster. Do a Speedtest on both. You'll see. Throttling at its best.