It’s somewhat difficult to accurately compare OnStar against Windows Automotive because the services are intrinsically quite different. OnStar is a monitored, monthly-fee service where a network of operators (OnStar Advisors) work in tandem with a computer, which is installed inside your vehicle and runs a proprietary OS. OnStar’s pairing of machine and man enables it to provide drivers with navigational assistance (with the aid of GPS [global positioning system]), emergency communications and vehicle tracking services for emergency personnel, handsfree calling, and a variety of other offerings (depending on your service level). For some of these features, you can access them directly from the vehicle. For others, you connect to a communications center and speak with an Advisor. Windows Automotive, on the other hand, is a software platform (based on the Windows CE embedded OS) that device makers use as the foundation for proprietary onboard systems (factory installed and after market). Some companies use a Windows Automotive-based solution in their vehicles and pair it with an OnStar-style operator assistance feature. Other automakers and manufacturers offer very different feature sets. Satoshi Soma, general manager of AVNC Product Development at Alpine Electronics says, “Windows Automotive . . . provides our developers with essential building blocks for creating our in-vehicle technology.” This is an excellent analogy because Windows Automotive is the core technology that transparently runs and interconnects all the various components of the system (in much the same way that Windows CE runs retail transaction devices or medical monitoring equipment). However, the system manufacturer, and not Microsoft, designs the complete package, including but not limited to the security features, navigational structure, and user interface. This difference does not mean Windows Automotive is better or worse than OnStar, it just means the decision-making process may be more complicated. Onboard OnStar No matter which OnStar-equipped model you purchase, you can expect a consistent set of available (although not necessarily included) features. Your vehicle will be equipped with front, rear, and side sensors that detect a crash; a cellular antenna to connect you to the OnStar network; a GPS device for tracking and mapping; a built-in microphone for hands-free communication; and in some GM models, sensors that measure crash severity and perform GM Goodwrench diagnostic checks.
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