Has anyone used the hands free calling with your On Star setup? Ideally, this would be integrated bluetooth, but it is still very nice. They gave me 30 free minutes and I bought an extra 100 mintes for $14.95. I found out too that you can hook it up to a Verizon Family share plan.

I hadn't heard much about it on the board, but I recommend that you give it a try.

I have used it - since this is my first OnStar equipped product they gave me the 100 extra minutes (or at least that what they said)

Pretty nice feature - just wish it could be connected to Sprint instead of Verizon - I will probably buy 30 minutes a year just to keep it active for emergencies (like when I forget to bring my cell phone)

I haven't used it yet but, ironically, it dropped the call when I was setting it up with OnStar and I wasn't even moving. I had OnStar on my 2004 GTP and really didn't care for it. Mostly because it was very expensive, $200 a year plus expensive minutes that expired if you didn't use them.

Interesting about the Verizon association. I guess it would be registered as another line (@9.99 month) but would you need to buy minutes or would they be used as if they were the Plan's minutes, i.e. peak and weekend? And of course, would you still need to pay $200/yr for OnStar?

I haven't used it yet but, ironically, it dropped the call when I was setting it up with OnStar and I wasn't even moving. I had OnStar on my 2004 GTP and really didn't care for it. Mostly because it was very expensive, $200 a year plus expensive minutes that expired if you didn't use them.

Interesting about the Verizon association. I guess it would be registered as another line (@9.99 month) but would you need to buy minutes or would they be used as if they were the Plan's minutes, i.e. peak and weekend? And of course, would you still need to pay $200/yr for OnStar?

It was my understanding that it deducted from the plan. Otherwise, I guess I couldn't see any benefit.

I haven't hooked it up yet to my Verizon Share Plan because I had already purchased the special 100 minutes (plus the 30 free) for $14.95 before I found this out. I plan to when my minutes run out. That may take awhile since I don't like talking on the phone.

The integrated is so much nicer. I can't tell you how many times I've see a car weaving all over the road just to pass them and see that they are dialing (or perhaps texting). The OnStar package eliminates all of that. It also makes it easy to setup connections to place like home, work, wife, etc...

I haven't used it yet but, ironically, it dropped the call when I was setting it up with OnStar and I wasn't even moving. I had OnStar on my 2004 GTP and really didn't care for it. Mostly because it was very expensive, $200 a year plus expensive minutes that expired if you didn't use them.

Interesting about the Verizon association. I guess it would be registered as another line (@9.99 month) but would you need to buy minutes or would they be used as if they were the Plan's minutes, i.e. peak and weekend? And of course, would you still need to pay $200/yr for OnStar?

I actually called the number and hooked it up to my Verizon Family Share account. You are right - it's an additional $9.99 a month since it's another line. I got a number for it and everything. It works off the Family Share Plan minutes and has the same Verizon features: Free nights and weekends, freen IN Calling etc. It also has free forwarding so you can simply forward your cell phone to the number of the car while you're in it and VOILA! I figured why not - 10 bucks to be able to use the phone features and be umm..."safer." I can let you all know how it works out since it take 24 hours to activate so sometime tonight it should be linked up etc etc.

The VZ news is interesting. Had on star calling on my CTS and loved it, except for the price of the minutes. If you can get VZ rates, it's a great deal.

One unanswered question, do you need to be an OnStar subscriber to use the phone with Verizon? That will add about $17.00 to the $9.99.

Darn good question. We all have the Safe and Sound package for a year, right? So it will at least work for a year. Do we have to renew the OnStar subscription in order to continue using the VZW phone? Going to have to look into that...

Yes you do, but press blue button and ask.

I signed up for the 100 minutes. But when I got my confirmation via email I now have 160 minutes. Go figure....

I signed up for the calling also. My experience so far is positive. This is the first time using onstar.

My experience with OnStar calling in my present vehicle (TBSS) and prior vehicle (Avalanche) was that the quality of the microphone left a lot to be desired. I called my home phone and left a message for myself using both the OnStar phone and the hands-free kit that came with my Motorola StarTac cell phone.

Believe it or not, 10 year-old cell phone speakerphone technology was better than OnStar, by quite a bit. Pretty disappointing.

Mr. Sandog,

My experience with the Onstar in my G8 has been exactly the opposite of what you describe. I have been using it here and there and the people on the other end have been unable to tell 1) I was in the car and 2) they were on speakerphone. Using it my Envoy is a different story, people tell me I sound like I am talking through a tin lined sock.

Does anybody have a link to the VZW/Onstar linking info?

Mr. Sandog,

My experience with the Onstar in my G8 has been exactly the opposite of what you describe. I have been using it here and there and the people on the other end have been unable to tell 1) I was in the car and 2) they were on speakerphone. Using it my Envoy is a different story, people tell me I sound like I am talking through a tin lined sock.

Does anybody have a link to the VZW/Onstar linking info?

Have you left yourself a message and then listened to the sound quality? If not, I suggest you do so. Your vehicle may be quieter than mine (very well could be as the TBSS has lots of road noise at speed), but my experience is that the OnStar electronics are not too swift.

Mr. Sandog,

My experience with the Onstar in my G8 has been exactly the opposite of what you describe. I have been using it here and there and the people on the other end have been unable to tell 1) I was in the car and 2) they were on speakerphone. Using it my Envoy is a different story, people tell me I sound like I am talking through a tin lined sock.

Does anybody have a link to the VZW/Onstar linking info?

Take a look at this: http://solutions.vzwshop.com/onstar/

I called the OnStar number that was in the OnStar manual I got and they forwarded me to the Verizon Department at OnStar. I haven't used the phone yet so I can't attest to its quality or anything yet. I will let you know soon.

Have you left yourself a message and then listened to the sound quality? If not, I suggest you do so. Your vehicle may be quieter than mine (very well could be as the TBSS has lots of road noise at speed), but my experience is that the OnStar electronics are not too swift.

I will try that on the way home tonight. Having both an Envoy (Virtually same body as TBSS) and the G8, I can assure you the G8 is many times quieter inside when underway.

I will try that on the way home tonight. Having both an Envoy (Virtually same body as TBSS) and the G8, I can assure you the G8 is many times quieter inside when underway.

The TBSS is the worst vehicle I have ever owned as far as road noise goes. It is pretty disappointing in that area. I'm sure your Envoy is much better.