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Onstar Navigation System to Deliver In-Car Spam

Posted by chrisd on from the key-reasons-not-to-use-onstar dept.

pneuma_66 writes: "According to the New York Times (Free reg, don't cha know) navigation systems, like OnStar, are planning to deliver ads based on the car's location. For example, the system will 'notify' the driver of sales in nearby stores. The vp of OnStar says "The privacy and the confidentiality of our subscribers are of the utmost importance", well lets see how the big companies play with this new wealth of information."

4 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. OnStar - has a 70% NON-renwal rate... by quanta · · Score: 1, Redundant

    According to a poll at saab.com, 70% of current OnStar users do NOT plan on renewing their service after the first free year.
    I know I won't - it's cute, but not worth the $$. They want $0.50/min for cell phone use on top of the annual fee! The GPS data is only available to the call center and the thing can't even set the time in the car!
    This debacle was obviously created by a Marketing committe.

  2. Not that bad of and idea, but... by FKell · · Score: 0, Redundant

    the concern is that now a database will know when and where I shop (not that certian places don't already have that, but still, I prefer to use cash and not give my name if asked).

    I don't know, its just getting harder and harder to not have your daily activities tracked anymore.

  3. Re:A Database to Snoop With? by gilroy · · Score: 1, Redundant
    Blockquoth the poster:

    The evil of advertising is not that it's so frequent or intrusive, but that it's so frequently intrusive and *irrelevant*.

    I disagree. I feel that the evil of advertising is exactly that it's so frequent and so intrusive. I know it makes me un-American but there really are times I'd rather not be thinking about how to spend my money the fastest.


    If I drive into a new city, and I get a list of seafood restaurants nearby with Zagats reviews, that's VALUABLE!

    I disagree again. If I can query a database and say "Give me some seafood restaurants nearby" -- that is, if I as a user initiate a search -- then the service can be valuable. If OnStar or whoever simply decides "Hey, he might want some food now", then it's just pointless and intrusive.
    --
    The Mongrel Dogs Who Teach
  4. Re:Pay them, and STILL get spam? by gilroy · · Score: 1, Redundant
    Blockquoth the poster:

    These guys want you to pay for their service AND serve advertisements to you? I am betting in a few weeks we will see how AOL has filed suit against Onstar for stealing their business practices... they would be right of course -- who could claim prior art against AOL's practices?

    Premium cable channels? :)
    --
    The Mongrel Dogs Who Teach