Home > Articles > Hardware > Upgrading & Repairing

All New GM Cars Will Soon Have iPhone/iPad Integration

Beginning with its 2013 model year cars, which are now available from Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealerships, General Motors is manufacturing what it refers to as "connected cars." These vehicles integrate with the iPhone or iPad and GM's own OnStar service. Jason R. Rich takes a closer look at how iOS mobile devices play a growing role in how drivers operate and experience their vehicles, and how in-car infotainment systems have changed forever.
Like this article? We recommend

When shopping for a new car, chances are that you'll look at its features, such as the power of the engine, its fuel efficiency, the comfort of the seats, its safety rating, and its price. Within the past year, however, one of the most sought-after features among most new car buyers is the technology within the vehicle and how it interacts with wireless mobile devices.

As you're about to discover, GM has become a pioneer in integrating the technology within its vehicles with the iPhone and iPad, allowing drivers and passengers to control and interact with their vehicle in new and exciting ways.

Gone forever are in-car cassette players, CD players, and even stand-alone AM/FM or Sirius/XM satellite radio receivers. The AM/FM/Satellite radio receivers are now part of the car's in-dash infotainment system.

Starting with the 2013 model year cars, many GM cars began offering iPhone and iPad integration with the vehicle's in-dash infotainment system and OnStar. This integration is being adapted in a variety of different ways, based on the vehicle model, yet all focus on offering what GM refers to as a "connected car" that simultaneously utilizes built-in, beamed-in, and brought-in technologies that seamlessly work together.

What's interesting about the GM initiative to include cutting-edge technology and iPhone/iPad integration into its vehicles is that it began doing this initially with its lowest-cost Chevrolet Sonic and Spark vehicles (which are popular first new car options among college-age students who are fully iPhone literate), as well as its higher-end Cadillac models (which appeal to older and wealthier drivers).

Currently, every new GM car offers a built-in, in-dash infotainment system, which often includes a full-color touch screen displayed that can be used to control music, radio, navigation, infotainment, hands-free cellular phone communication, and certain dashboard-related functions (see Figure 1). This infotainment system works seamlessly with OnStar and allows for the connection of an iPhone or iPad either via a wireless Bluetooth connection or using a USB cable.

Figure 1 Built into the dashboard of the 2013 Sonic is an interactive infotainment system with touch screen

OnStar-Related Functions Can Be Controlled or Accessed from an iPhone/iPad

OnStar is a subscription-based service that has been included within GM vehicles since 1995, but it has evolved considerably over the years. Today, it offers emergency services, such as automatic crash response and crisis assist, as well as turn-by-turn navigation, vehicle diagnostics, security (including roadside assistance), and remote services (such as the ability for an OnStar representative to remotely unlock a vehicle's door or help locate and retrieve a stolen vehicle).

Thanks to iPhone/iPad integration and GM's proprietary OnStar Remote Link app (see Figure 2), a vehicle owner can now auto-start or unlock their vehicle remotely from their iOS mobile device from anywhere, plus monitor the car's fuel level, tire pressure and oil. Also, while a driver is at home or the office, for example from their iPhone, an address can be found from a Contacts database listing and then wirelessly sent to the vehicle's in-car navigation system. So when the vehicle is turned on, the driver's destination is already preprogrammed into the vehicle's navigation system and is ready to go.

Figure 2 The OnStar Remote app allows drivers to access details about their OnStar-enabled vehicle remotely—plus lock or unlock doors and even start the engine

Utilize Your iPhone's Siri Feature Directly from Your Vehicle While Driving

Yet another cutting-edge, yet simple way iPhone/iPad integration is being incorporated into GM cars is with the introduction of Siri Eyes Free. Once an iPhone or iPad is wirelessly linked to a vehicle via Bluetooth (a process that needs to be done only once and takes less than one minute), a driver can tap the voice recognition button built into the car's steering wheel or tap the voice recognition button displayed on the in-car infotainment system's screen, and then activate and work with Siri that's running on their iOS mobile device and that uses the phone's 3G or 4G (LTE) cellular Internet connection.

Designed by Apple, Siri Eyes Free offers many of the hands-free, voice-controlled options Siri currently offers to iPhone/iPad users, but allows drivers to use these features safely while they're focused exclusively on the road, and without ever needing to look at the iOS device's screen.

What's different between Siri Eyes Free and regular Siri is that when used within a vehicle, Siri connects to the car's infotainment system (utilizing the microphone and speakers built into the vehicle), and only features that can be utilized without Siri displaying information on a screen are available.

For example, Siri Eyes Free can help you initiate a call. You simply activate Siri Eyes Free and say, "Call John Doe at home," for example. While driving, you can also ask Siri for the current weather. She will then speak the response, but not display an extended weather forecast.

You can also use Siri Eyes Free to do things like help you find the closest Chinese restaurant, ATM, or gas station; tell you the latest scores from your favorite sports team; or compose and send an email or text message.

Upon request, Siri will also read aloud your latest incoming text or email messages and allow you to reply to those messages verbally—always without displaying any information on the phone's screen.

In most situations, Siri Eyes Free will be heard within the entire vehicle through the car's infotainment system, but can be overridden by the driver to be heard exclusively through a standard wireless Bluetooth headset that's already paired with the iPhone.

If you have music stored on your iPhone, it's possible to use Siri Eyes Free to find and play specific songs, playlists, or albums, which will automatically be heard through the car's infotainment system. Thus, there's no more fumbling with radio dials or the iPhone, which would require a driver to take his eyes off the road to find a song that's stored on a mobile device.

If you ask Siri Eyes Free how to get to a specific location from your current location, by saying something like, "How do I get home from here?," Siri will provide voice-based, turn-by-turn directions utilizing the Maps app that's built into the iPhone, but will not display the Maps screen on the iPhone itself.

BringGo Offers Low-Cost In-Car Navigation Powered by the iPhone

Yet another way GM has cut costs, yet has added powerful iPhone integration within some of its new and upcoming vehicles is through the BringGo navigation app. Instead of adding a full in-vehicle navigation system into its cars, which typically adds upwards of $1,000 to $1,500 to a vehicle's price, an iPhone user can install the BringGo app on their iPhone (and a similar app directly within their vehicle's infotainment system) and activate it for between $50.00 and $60.00. The $60.00 option includes map upgrades for two years.

Once activated, BringGo offers a full-featured navigation system that's running on the iPhone, but allows drivers to access it from the infotainment system's screen within their vehicle (see Figure 3). BringGo displays detailed maps on the infotainment system's screen, offers voice-based turn-by-turn directions, and includes all the features you'd expect from a much more expensive in-car navigation system. However, it's all actually run from your iPhone, and uses the phone's cellular Internet connection. Thus, as you leave your vehicle, you can continue using the app to navigate around on foot, for example.

Figure 3 BringGo runs on the iPhone and uses the phone's cellular data connection, but provides a compatible GM vehicle with a full-featured navigation system for $60.00 or less

The BringGo app also fully integrates with other apps and features within your iPhone, so you can look up addresses or access addresses from your Contacts database.

BringGo works with 2013 and 2014 model year Chevrolet Spark and Sonic vehicles, but plans are underway to incorporate this type of iPhone-controlled navigation system into other GM vehicles that don't already have a built-in navigation system.

What's Next for 2014 Model Year and Beyond Cars

iPhone integration with GM cars is still in its infancy, as is how each vehicle's in-dash infotainment system and the OnStar system can interact with an iOS mobile device. Integration with OnStar, Siri Eyes Free, and BringGo are already available in some new GM vehicles, but that's just the beginning.

GM, in conjunction with a handful of app developers, is working on new ways to manage and control music and other content that's retrieved from the Internet via the iPhone (or iPad) cellular data connection, but accessible to the driver and vehicle's passengers from the in-dash infotainment system.

Already available are in-vehicle infotainment system apps for Pandora (an Internet-based radio app for music), Stitcher (an Internet-based talk radio app), and TuneIn (an Internet-based international radio app). They all work directly with the iPhone apps, so your existing Pandora account, for example, can be accessed and enjoyed from a compatible GM vehicle.

Beyond the fast-evolving work that's being done to make new GM cars integrate with the iPhone or iPad, the company has also announced that starting with 2015 model year cars, 4G LTE Internet connectivity will be built directly into the vehicles and connect to the AT&T Wireless cellular data network. Not only will this allow a vehicle to serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot for all Internet-enabled devices but it will also dramatically open the door for more types of information and content that the vehicle itself can retrieve from the Internet to enhance a driver or passenger's experience.

Meanwhile, according to Apple, more than a dozen car manufacturers, including BMW and Ferrari, are working into incorporate Siri Eyes Free capabilities and other forms of iPhone integration into their respective vehicles.

Note: All photos courtesy of General Motors.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020