[syakov79]

Reading my chev account what's included with a new Blazer. Connection 8 years but app connectivity 3 years so after 3 years loosing navigation voice guidance as well music apps such as Amazon music and Spotify. GM data plan is crazy expansive and use my cell data when deeded.
Anyone knows more on the topic? Post

navigation is free for 8 years as is the remote functions of the mychevy app. Music streaming is free for 3 years. There is a reason automakers are shifting to AAOS and working to add video streaming apps that will require usage of lots of data.

 

[syakov79]

Whatever you do, don't talk to OnStar about this. I continue to not really understand what we lose after 3 years (or even 8 years) so I called them. The sales guy said we lose entertainment apps like "Spotify and Hulu" at three years. Yes, he said Hulu. He also said we lose Google maps and the Google assistant ("Hey Google"). He also said we lose "wifi", but we finally agreed that he meant i ternet access. When I asked specifically about ABRP, he said we keep that because finding chargers is " necessary to operate the electric vehicle". He also said the 8 year plan is renewable at no charge. He was sure you can't renew it for 8 years, though. He thinks 1, 2, 3 or 4 years. He said if we needed the 3 year functions today, he could sell us a plan for just $24.99 per month and it includes data and using OnStar as a wifi hot spot. None of this made sense to me so I asked for a list of the app store apps we will lose at 3 years. He said he couldn't provide that, but he thought the tech folks can.

The lady at tech said we retain the Google Assistant and Google maps after three years. She knows someone using just the basics w/o app support and can confirm that. According to her, all we lose at three years is "entertainment apps". But she could not give me a list. She referred me to Chevrolet.com. I couldn't find any more detail there even when I signed in.

I think I've given up. I'll find out in almost exactly two years what we lose. Maybe someone who bought earlier will share his/her experience when their 3 years is up.

It's what I just said. The Google maps, Google Assistant and any data they use is free for 8 years. The name brand music streaming apps are free for 3 years. That's it.. any other apps you download on there would not work without a data plan. It's really not too complicated. Wi-Fi hotspot requires a data plan after the first month.

 

[syakov79]

Yep, that was my understanding about the 8 year plan. Hence my confusion when he said I lose Google assistant and Google maps after 3 years. And it being free to renew makes no sense at all. Especially since he couldn't really tell me what it does, just like the poor explanation I got from them a year ago.

I don't have a data plan as far as I know. Wasn't that part of the 1 month free service (that they would extend to 3 if asked) that came with the car along with the safety and security suite? That's what OnStar told me 11 months ago. I let that lapse. Shouldn't that have killed real time crowd sourcing for Waze? And what about the weather radar app? Its still working. Is that not considered a streaming app? Even if it isn't, its clearly using data. Likewise isn't ABRP using data? I don't use any music apps except Audiowagon (for mp3s on usb) and Sirius xM which is its own separate capability as I understand it. (First time Sirius subscriber.) Maybe I'm not using any streaming apps at all. Given the small number of apps in the Play Store, I figured someone could share a list of what apps require a data plan and what apps die after three years. Apparently not.

I don't have a wifi hot spot provided by my car. That was also part of the OnStar that I let lapse, as I understand it. Why would I need a wifi hot spot for apps loaded on the car? Isn't OnStar serving as the internet gateway directly? Or are you just talking about using OnStar data for phone apps via wifi?

Wi-Fi hot spot is just what it describes. Your car is a hot spot and kids or whomever can connect devices to stream their own content or do work on a laptop.

I think Waze counts as a Google app and since it came pre installed it's included with Google maps for 8 years. I don't know about the weather app. The music apps are the pre installed apps like Spotify and YouTube music, they are free for 3 years. My guess is the video apps now shipping on SS models will not be free for that long and that will be the carrot to get some folks to pay for dates plan. It's possible that the other standard apps like weather are also included for 3 years but they just aren't spelling that part of since they use much less data vs music streaming. I do think the 3 year coverage is a called connected apps access so it's get possible it includes whatever is in the play store.


As you said sxm radio is totally different and paid for separately.

 

[syakov79]

I'm with you on everything you wrote, but it still leaves some edge cases where only an answer that addresses the specific app (like data for the weather app or ABRP) will really provide an answer. It's disappointing, but not really a big deal, that OnStar/GM can't provide a more specific answer. I believe the first Blazer EVs were sold in September or October of '23, so we'll have concrete answers to what is covered under the 3 year app access in less than 18 months.

I haven't heard of anyone not having access to the standard apps so for right now I think its safe to assume for 3 years all the apps will work. I saw a comment from a guy who had a used silverado EV and he learned that the data isn't included for second owners so that is where they plan to bring in the revenue- the used car market. And from what I can tell you cannot configure the car to automatically connect to a phone for wifi so if you want to use your phone's data you have to connect the car manually each time. One more reason they hope people will opt for a data plan.

 

[syakov79]

So your saying you get connectivity for 3 years. I have no wifi or data. My Amazon music only plays the same 20-30 songs over and over. So how can they say 8 years of connection? To what? And your right the price for data is outrageous! The only option is to hotspot the car to your phone. And if your phone plan isn't good, that's a waste also.

the google maps (and I believe waze) and google assistant is free for 8 years on the 2024 models. The music streaming is free for 3 years. Wifi is not included for free beyond the initial trial.