We’ve all had that panicky moment when we go to get in our car and realize the door is locked. Not a problem unless your keys are in the seat or the ignition – or much worse, the car is running! The good news is that if you have a General Motors car and have your phone handy, you can use it to get back into your vehicle. Isn’t it funny how we are more likely to keep our phones in hand 24/7 but not our keys?!
General Motors has released the OnStar RemoteLink app for Windows, iOS, Android and Blackberry phones. Originally launched with the Chevy Volt in 2010, it is now available for all phones and models. RemoteLink’s ultimate goal is to give you remote access to your vehicle. You can use it to unlock and lock your doors, remotely start your vehicle, and turn off and on your horn and lights, all from your smart phone. You can also view data on your car’s oil levels, tire pressure, and fuel levels, which GM says is the most common reason people use the app.
Even if you have a GM car and Windows Phone, there are a few caveats. You need to have an active OnStar subscription, a 2010 or newer Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, or GMC vehicle, and a compatible Windows Phone 7.5 or 8 device (the app was available for both my Lumia 521 and HTC 8X). General Motors says that the app is available for nearly all GM models, so if your GM car isn’t older than 2010, it will likely work with the app.
Though you need an active OnStar subscription to start using the RemoteLink app, General Motors says that if you purchase a 2014 vehicle with OnStar, and use the app just once before your OnStar subscription runs out, you’ll be able to remote lock and unlock, remote start, and remotely control your headlights for five years after that first use, whether you continue to pay for OnStar or not.
So next time you go to purchase a car, it is not only the vehicle’s visual appearance, safety ratings and luxury features you are looking for, but the types of advanced technologies that are offered – especially if you are prone to locking yourself out of your car!
