World News: OnStar romps home with FOUR Telematics Update Awards

OnStar by GM waltzed off with four Telematics Update Awards this week, making it the only multi-award winner at the Telematics Detroit 2007 event.

Running alongside the biggest and most influential telematics-focused conference and exhibition of the year – Telematics Update Detroit 2007 – the Telematics Update Awards is the only event of its type to recognise the industry’s best and brightest for their outstanding performance and achievements.

OnStar’s initiatives were recognised with these awards:

Best Embedded Telematics Service Award: OnStar was selected for its essential features like Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN), Turn-by-Turn Navigation, OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, Hands-Free Calling, as well as its user-friendly three-button interface.

Best Embedded Telematics Navigation Product: OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation service – OnStar was recognised for bringing affordable voice-activated, user-friendly GPS-based routing to the mass market.

Best Use of Telematics Technology for Safety: OnStar was selected for its ability to use telematics solutions like AACN to enhance the driver’s safety and security in the event of an emergency.

People's Choice Award – Best Telematics Company: OnStar was recognised with the first ever People’s Choice Award, which was chosen by visitors to the Telematics Update website.

“With more than a decade of experience, OnStar continues to provide relevant services to our subscribers – services that every vehicle should be able to provide,” said OnStar president Chet Huber. “We appreciate Telematics Update’s recognition of the value we bring to our customers, and look forward to having our services standard on nearly all GM vehicles by the end of this year.”

Over the Telematics Update Awards’ five-year history, OnStar’s industry leadership has been acknowledged with both individual and company-wide awards, including:

• Best Telematics Navigation Product – 2006
• Best use of Telematics for Automotive Safety and Security – 2005, 2006
• Best Embedded/Terminal Product – 2005
• Best Reseller/Retailer – 2005
• Leadership Award – 2003, 2004 – including the 2004 Leadership Award for OnStar president, Chet Huber
• Telematics in Action Award – 2003, 2004
• Heroes Award Nominees – Telematics Service Provider Employee – 2003

“OnStar always has a strong presence at the Telematics Update Awards, which is a reflection of OnStar's leadership position in the telematics field,” said Phil Magney, president & principal analyst at Telematics Research Group, and a Telematics Update Awards judge. “Each year OnStar makes enhancements to their service portfolio that provides more benefit to subscribers in terms of safety, security, and convenience. OnStar is a pioneer in the field of in-vehicle telematics and their recent enhancements demonstrate their commitment to the category.”

Along with the Telematics Research Group, the Telematics Update Awards are judged by the industry’s top thought leaders including executives from Gartner, Transportation Communications Newsletter, Cogenia Partners, SBD, LBS Consulting and Mitechnews.com