General Motors and Amazon have announced that they will be introducing the OnStar Guardian skill for Amazon Alexa. This new feature will enable voice-controlled connections to emergency-certified OnStar advisors at home via compatible Alexa devices.
The OnStar Guardian Skill for Amazon Alexa is part of the OnStar Guardian platform, which aims to keep people safe regardless of their location. Once the new feature is enabled, members can reach OnStar advisors in crisis situations like house fires, medical emergencies, break-ins and more by saying, “Alexa, call for help”.
“We are excited to be working with General Motors to bring the OnStar Guardian capability to customers,” said Beatrice Geoffrin, director of Amazon Alexa. “This hands-free Alexa skill makes it easy for customers to get help from OnStar’s certified emergency advisors when they need it.
General Motors and Amazon Alexa have already teamed up to offer integrated functions in GM vehicles. After initial setup, GM customers can: Stream news, music and books; Stay up to date with health and safety information; Confirm the delivery status of the Amazon package; Add items to your shopping list or shopping cart; Find restaurants nearby – including those that deliver to your home; Request directions and destinations, they are sent to your vehicle’s navigation system (if available); Hands-free calling and messaging as well as the control of smart home devices in the car.
OnStar plans range from $ 24.99 to $ 49.99 per month, depending on their features. The lowest level option includes the built-in Alexa feature.
The OnStar system was originally founded in 1995 and continues to lead the way in promoting automotive innovation through digital communication.
OnStar is a collaboration between GM, Electronic Data Systems and Hughes Electronics Corporation. The service has over 6 million customers.
The OnStar Guardian Skill for Amazon Alexa will initially be available to select OnStar members, with the intention of introducing the service to anyone in the United States with a compatible Alexa-enabled device for their home – an Echo, Echo Dot, or even by 2022 Echo show.
