Rumormill: OnStar to add hands-free Twitter functionality?
General Motors' OnStar in-car communications system can give you directions or help you make a phone call, and soon it may also be able to send and receive Tweets. Gear Live recently received a survey from the General announcing that Twitter functionality could soon be on the way. With a press of a vehicle's OnStar button, users will reportedly be able to send voice-activated Tweets of up to 140 characters to everyone in their Twitter network. The text would automatically be added to the owner's Twitter account via the "What are you doing?" section at the top of the page. The system would also read aloud messages that are sent to the OnStar user.
Adding Twitter functionality would be a boon for fans of the social networking site, while also giving users less of an incentive to take their eyes off the road to check for messages on their smart phone, although the jury's still out on whether this can be done safely. From where we sit, this innovation would make even more sense applied to all text messages (not unlike Ford's Sync), which has somehow become a preferred means of communications for everyone on the planet under the age of 30. Thanks for the tip, Jonathan!
[Source: Tech Crunch]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
George 9:46AM (3/30/2009)
This week's sign of the apocalypse.
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BoxerFanatic 10:22AM (3/30/2009)
Maybe this morning's sign.
They are coming by the hour and the day, much faster than by the week.
Lemmiwinks 12:18PM (3/30/2009)
Y'all do realize that April starts on Wednesday, right?
Rob 9:47AM (3/30/2009)
Now that is innovation. This would save GM!
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superman211 12:02PM (3/30/2009)
I hope you are joking. This is pure $chyt
Taglane 2:15PM (3/30/2009)
Won't save onStar, but it would give some people a reason to like it again. I still think OnStar needs a revamp. Onstar should be like Sync- but still with the crash notification, theft detection, auto door unlock and auto engine shutoff. Those 5 things coupled with wireless Bluetooth from your phone (no seperate number, and no paying for minutes- or even paying anything monthly for that matter.), and maybe even a few fun features like this Twitter thing, and Onstar could be what us kids are calling the s**t.
PaulPaul 9:49AM (3/30/2009)
*ugh*
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Zach 9:51AM (3/30/2009)
I assume you mean 140 characters... not bytes.
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1337 12:53PM (3/30/2009)
agreed.
character != byte
Chris 9:59AM (3/30/2009)
If this is true, Scotty Monty is going to leave Ford to join GM.
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Polly Prissy Pants 10:00AM (3/30/2009)
You should have saved this for Wednesday. Nobody would have ever bought this as authentic on Wednesday. Of all the things GM needs to add to OnStar and it's cars in general, this is waaay down on the list. And do people really tweet while driving? Really?
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Mazda FTW! 10:05AM (3/30/2009)
Yes they do. I don't but Twitter has really caught on. And texting via voice would be awesome. I'm 25 and I RARELY have telephone conversations. It's all via txt.
Rick C. 10:59AM (3/30/2009)
You rarely have phone conversations?
Look, no offense, but how are your social skills? I see these tweens and teenagers enter a restaurant behind their parents, and not once do they look up and socialize. The whole time their fingers are going at some device.
Just drive the car.
Mazda FTW! 11:21AM (3/30/2009)
LOL. My social skills are quite good actually...being an extroverted Marketing/Event Management major. However, the reason I like txting is two-fold:
1) My buddies don't really like chatting too long on the phone so txt suits us just fine. (Yo...game at 5? ttyl)
2) I prefer to send short txts instead of getting sucked into a 3hr convo with my lady friends (missed ur call. whats up)
;)
JZeke 10:04AM (3/30/2009)
This will be popular in the Bay Area, provided they van get OnStar on a Prius...
If this DOES come out, I wouldn't be surprised if Ford updated Sync with a verbal Facebook status update feature. Afterall, Microsoft has a stake in FB, as well as Sync...
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Sean Flanagan 10:08AM (3/30/2009)
I use Twitter, and I think this is just a step too far.
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Greg 10:13AM (3/30/2009)
The only status it should be allowed to upload is "actively driving and paying attention to the road". This self-importance wave is scary. Earth to everyone, I don't care that you are grocery shopping. Nor do I need to be alerted about it over the internet. Two hands on the wheel and check your blindspots.
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1337 12:55PM (3/30/2009)
If I were using twitter via onstar, I'd say
@Greg I just backed into your car in the parking lot. It'll buff out. kthxbai
hyundaifans.com 10:14AM (3/30/2009)
This is just ridiculous. Another excuse for an accident to add to the police report.
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Tom Miller 10:28AM (3/30/2009)
Won't make it to the police report. The driver will deny all.