General Motors announced that it is bringing two new navigation services to market for vehicles equipped with OnStar Turn-by-Turn capable vehicles, one of which allows users to pre-plan a trip on MapQuest and download it to their vehicle.

The first service, OnStar Destination Download, enables OnStar subscribers with screen-based factory navigation systems to enter a new navigation destination without first pulling over to the side of the road. GM along with many automakers lock out the ability to enter a new destination into the factory nav-system while the vehicle is moving.  To use the service a driver would first call an OnStar representative and relay the destination address.  OnStar then downloads the desitnation to the vehicles navi. Once downloaded the driver can simply press "Go" on the navigation screen and begin on their merry way. 

"Through OnStar and onboard navigation systems, GM is transforming the category with the broadest range of options to suit customer preferences," said OnStar President Chet Huber.

While we understand locking out the ability to enter a new destination while the vehicle is moving is a matter of liability to General Motors,  we're not sure how much less of a distraction calling someone, spelling out an address, then pressing a button would be compared to just letting a driver enter the address themselves.  GM expects that Destination Download will be available on 80 percent of their screen-based navigation systems, or approximately 325,000 vehicles, starting with the 2009 model year.

The second and probably more useful service , OnStar eNav, gives subscribers the ability to pre-plan their trip on MapQuest.com and then send the details on to their vehicle. To access the route drivers simply press the OnStar phone button and use voice guided commands.   GM started pilot testing the service last June with rave reviews by participants. OnStar eNav will be retroactively available on the 2.7 million vehicles already equipped with Turn-by-Turn service.

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