OnStar Gets Microsoft Virtual Earth 3D Data

Oscar Ugueto Demonstrates OnStar Turn by Turn Navigation System

General Motors has just announced that its popular OnStar emergency technology will be upgraded with Microsoft Virtual Earth support. Basically, this means the system is going to benefit from 3D mapping data provided by Microsoft Virtual Earth, allowing both rescuers and emergency teams get more accurate details regarding the victims' position and location.

"When lives are on the line, every second counts and this new technology will give our Advisors another tool to speed the time it takes first responders to find subscribers in an emergency," said Chet Huber, president, OnStar. "They will be able to give the dispatchers even more information about our subscriber's location in the event the vehicle has gone off the road or is in weather conditions that make visual contact difficult."

This is the second upgrade of the week, following the 911 location information transmitter announced on Monday. Just like today's improvement, the Monday upgrade allows emergency team receive accurate coordinates showing the location of the victims, including street names, cross streets and precise x-y coordinates of an emergency call.

"Microsoft is helping automakers, suppliers and customers focus on long-term innovation to reshape the plant floor, in-car and dealership experience," said David Graff, U.S. automotive industry solutions director, Microsoft Corp.

"Collaborating with OnStar to support emergency services is a great example of this innovation, empowering advisors with features like Virtual Earth's Bird's Eye view imagery to help them quickly locate subscribers, even in adverse weather and conditions. This service not only continues to provide differentiation inside the vehicle, but also more importantly helps save lives."