Ford offering OnStar rival

RSS

Main Menu

Primary Top Navigation

Useful Links

Market Watch

Feb 21, 2008

Ford will begin offering a vehicle tracking device named SmartAlert to rival General Motors’ OnStar service. The SmartAlert system will be dealer-installed and compliments Ford’s Sync infotainment service.

SmartAlert will become available on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury (not sold in Canada – but you already knew that) vehicles. The program uses a GPS system to help locate stolen vehicles and will use cellular networks to send the vehicle’s location to authorities.

In addition, SmartAlert will be able to unlock vehicle doors and down the road Ford is developing the technology to enable the car’s owner to unlock the doors via cell phone. Lastly, it will offer parents a tracking option whereby they can be notified if the vehicle is being driven at an excessive speed.

According to Automotive News, SmartAlert will cost between $700 and $1,200 with customers paying a subscription fee there after.

Karen McGinnis |

Reader Comments

There are no comments for this journal entry. To create a new comment, use the form below.

Post a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

Author:

Author Email (optional):

Author URL (optional):

Post:

↓ | ↑

All HTML will be escaped. Hyperlinks will be created for URLs automatically.

Website design by Cloudyreason
Original Material by AutoNorth.ca is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Canada License. | _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Auto news in Canada including the latest from Detroit and the US. Car show information, new car announcements, consumer reports. Canadian auto blog.