Answering a phone call using Onstar

[tunaboy]

Ok, don't laugh... I hate to ask this, but how do you answer an incoming call on the onstar system? I can't find any info on it anywhere!

[Edd]

Just push the button with the little picture of the phone, it's on the mirror.

[DarthKarl]

When it rings, press the phone button on the rearview mirror. I think you can also press the "talking head" button (the one next to the exterior light controls) to answer the phone as well.


I've found it takes a half a second or so to turn the phone on, so if you say "hello" right away, the caller sometimes misses it. Otherwise that's all there is to it. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[tunaboy]

I've tried the "talking head" and couldn't get it to answer. I've wondered about the phone button on the mirror, but hadn't tried it yet.
I'll try it tonight!! Thanks!!!

[Edd]

The talking head is so you can speak digits for the system to touch tone in. The ON Star CD in the glove box has all kinds of good info on it.

[HummerNewbie]

I wish it had caller ID http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[f5fstop]

Originally posted by Edd:
The talking head is so you can speak digits for the system to touch tone in. The ON Star CD in the glove box has all kinds of good info on it.

I believe it also works as a mute button when talking. I do know you can use it to program numbers into the system, spent a hour doing that one night. You can use it to make a programmed call. I do not know if you can push it to answer, since I have not given anyone my Onstar number, and won't until Verizon gets their act together and allow me to use Onstar as a second phone and keep my 21% discount. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Mike E]

Originally posted by f5fstop:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Edd:
The talking head is so you can speak digits for the system to touch tone in. The ON Star CD in the glove box has all kinds of good info on it.

I believe it also works as a mute button when talking. I do know you can use it to program numbers into the system, spent a hour doing that one night. You can use it to make a programmed call. I do not know if you can push it to answer, since I have not given anyone my Onstar number, and won't until Verizon gets their act together and allow me to use Onstar as a second phone and keep my 21% discount. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

f5fstop, you can use your onstar line on your existing Verizon account and still get your 21% discount. I did.

The only way to answer a call is to press the phone button on the mirror. The "talking head" button is for making a call and other advanced voice commands for making outgoing calls.

You also have caller id. IT will display the incoming calls phone number on your radio instead of the radio station. Or at least it does on mine. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[HummerNewbie]

Originally posted by Mike E:
You also have caller id. IT will display the incoming calls phone number on your radio instead of the radio station. Or at least it does on mine. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Will have to double check but as I recall mine display the number you are dialing but does not display the incoming number. Just says phone or something like that. Will test it and see though.

[f5fstop]

Originally posted by Mike E:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by f5fstop:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Edd:
The talking head is so you can speak digits for the system to touch tone in. The ON Star CD in the glove box has all kinds of good info on it.

I believe it also works as a mute button when talking. I do know you can use it to program numbers into the system, spent a hour doing that one night. You can use it to make a programmed call. I do not know if you can push it to answer, since I have not given anyone my Onstar number, and won't until Verizon gets their act together and allow me to use Onstar as a second phone and keep my 21% discount. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

f5fstop, you can use your onstar line on your existing Verizon account and still get your 21% discount. I did.

The only way to answer a call is to press the phone button on the mirror. The "talking head" button is for making a call and other advanced voice commands for making outgoing calls.

You also have caller id. IT will display the incoming calls phone number on your radio instead of the radio station. Or at least it does on mine. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

When did you sign up for the service? I called and wrote last month, and they said at that time it was not possible due to some stupid computer clitch. Verizon emailed me and said that when it was available, they would send another email.
Might be the area? I know when I moved from TN to MI, I was forced to actually close out my TN account and open a MI account due to different marketing areas. Maybe tomorrow I'll have to give them a call.

[fourfourto]

You also have caller id. IT will display the incoming calls phone number on your radio instead of the radio station. Or at least it does on mine

I used to have that but with my eclipse it does'nt come up. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[Mike E]

f5fstop, I did have that issue originally and they went into the system and forced it to give me the discount. It did take some complaining and this was around December when this happened. It had something to do with the Verizon/Onstar service being a different system than the regular Verizon service or some crap like that.

[NEOCON1]

442 are you set up thru verizon for home forwarding , caller id , etc. i only have mine set up thru onstar .

Can you hear me now !!! http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[fourfourto]

I dont have the home fowarding.Not too many people have the # I started it in aug with 130 minutes and as of last week I had 90 left(including 2 wrong #'s.Do they charge you minute time for the fowarded call?.I use it as a back up and I get a deal through at&t/cingular so I cant change over for know.

[ETD]

tunaboy. Check the manual again. There is a section on using the phone. Easy read. I finally got around to it after trial and error. Now I know the difference between "dial" and "call" http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[tunaboy]

Just tried it! Using the phone button on the mirror worked!!
Thanks guys!!

[HummerNewbie]

I tested the caller ID a little bit ago and it did not display the incoming number, just said phone. I had it on XM and am using the GM XM Direct setup from Terk so maybe that is why. I don't think that is the issue but I will try it again while on an FM station to see if anything is different.

[HummerNewbie]

Ok, just tried it on FM and same thing. I flipped through the OnStar manual but didn't see anything about Caller ID. Anyone have any idea how to get it working?

[DarthKarl]

Originally posted by Mike E:
It had something to do with the Verizon/Onstar service being a different system than the regular Verizon service or some crap like that.

I heard the same thing from verizon when I signed up. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[f5fstop]

Here is the reply I received last month from Verizon:

Dear xxxxx,

Thank you for contacting the Verizon Wireless Business Support Center.

We were happy to review your request for account xxxxxxx.

You will not be able to take advantage of your employee discount if you add an Onstar account, however we have a team that is currently working on this situation. We will contact you as early as next month once this situation has been resolved.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

If you have any questions, please respond to this message, via e-mail, with Reference #3391776, or contact the Business Support Center at 1-866-294-1329.

We appreciate your business. Thank you for contacting Verizon Wireless.



Sincerely,

Joy L.

Verizon Wireless
Business Support Center
Dublin, Ohio

"We never stop working for you!"

The above response is subject to the terms of your Service Agreement and calling plan, which apply to all lines on your account. Please read those materials for full details. Our liability is limited. In the event of a conflict between this response and the terms of your Service Agreement and calling plan, the terms of your Service Agreement and calling plan will govern. Verizon Wireless's calling plans, rate areas, rates, agreement provisions, business practices, procedures and policies are subject to change as specified in the Service Agreement.

Verizon has been great getting in contact with me when they have stated they would, so I'll give them a few more weeks. Besides, I have 100 minutes to use before I want to transfer to verizon. I heard those minutes go away when you switch.

As for caller ID or number being called. Mine only says PHONE on the radio display, for outgoing of the one incoming call I have received. I have the MP3 player, and I do know it has a smaller display than the six-disc so this might be the problem.

[Mike E]

Originally posted by f5fstop:
Here is the reply I received last month from Verizon:

Dear xxxxx,

Thank you for contacting the Verizon Wireless Business Support Center.

We were happy to review your request for account xxxxxxx.

You will not be able to take advantage of your employee discount if you add an Onstar account, however we have a team that is currently working on this situation. We will contact you as early as next month once this situation has been resolved.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

If you have any questions, please respond to this message, via e-mail, with Reference #3391776, or contact the Business Support Center at 1-866-294-1329.

We appreciate your business. Thank you for contacting Verizon Wireless.



Sincerely,

Joy L.

Verizon Wireless
Business Support Center
Dublin, Ohio

"We never stop working for you!"

The above response is subject to the terms of your Service Agreement and calling plan, which apply to all lines on your account. Please read those materials for full details. Our liability is limited. In the event of a conflict between this response and the terms of your Service Agreement and calling plan, the terms of your Service Agreement and calling plan will govern. Verizon Wireless's calling plans, rate areas, rates, agreement provisions, business practices, procedures and policies are subject to change as specified in the Service Agreement.

Verizon has been great getting in contact with me when they have stated they would, so I'll give them a few more weeks. Besides, I have 100 minutes to use before I want to transfer to verizon. I heard those minutes go away when you switch.

As for caller ID or number being called. Mine only says PHONE on the radio display, for outgoing of the one incoming call I have received. I have the MP3 player, and I do know it has a smaller display than the six-disc so this might be the problem.

-That's basically what they told me over the phone but after about an hour they called me back and the representative said that she worked with a manager and they did some fancy workaround and got it to give me the discount and add the verizon/onstar number to my account. So I know it can be done but it looks like you just need to get the right customer service rep that will go through the trouble for you.
-I retract what I said about the caller ID. You guys are correct about the number being displayed on the radio. I checked it last night.

[Ma\'Deuce]

When I went in for the verizon/onstar accross America plan they said it was an additional ~$40 and month on top of my original verizon plan. why would you do that of you can just buy minutes for the onstar phone? I mean, it would be nice to have your cell forward to your vehicle when your inside it, but for an additional cost of a plan? And what's this employee discount your talking about? gm employee?

[HummerNewbie]

Originally posted by fourfourto:
You also have caller id. IT will display the incoming calls phone number on your radio instead of the radio station. Or at least it does on mine

I used to have that but with my eclipse it does'nt come up. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

Are you sure you had caller ID on the stock head unit? Mine does show the outgoing number but just phone on incoming. That appears to be what others are getting too. I have the 6 disk monsoon system.

[DarthKarl]

Originally posted by Ma'Deuce:
When I went in for the verizon/onstar accross America plan they said it was an additional ~$40 and month on top of my original verizon plan.

Mine is just an additional $10 a month for the extra line.

[f5fstop]

I checked it yesterday, and mine shows the last 8 digits of the outgoing call, cutting off the first three numbers (the 1, and first two of the area code). I read somewhere that the MP3 player has a smaller display than other radios. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif
As for the price, it is $10.00 more for me, but you have to switch to a family plan, and the $10.00 makes the Onstar an additional phone. However, there can be a problem for some. I thought there would be a problem with me, since I currently have 900 minutes a month, and the family plans are either 700 or 1400. The 700 plan would cost an additional $10.00. Therefore, I would be spending $10.00 more per month, but receiving 200 minutes less.
If someone had a basic plan with 450 minutes, adding the OnStar would cost a lot more, but then you would obtain more minutes.
I did a run of all my minutes in the past eight months, and discovered that only in December did I come close to using 700 minutes during peak times when talking out of the IN network. So, it should not be a problem since most people I talk to have Verizon phones. (The cell phone is my only phone, I did away with a land line 4 years ago.)

[Hal]

FYI... The factory Nav Screen does not display an incoming phone number. It only shows the number you have dialed and units remaining (if you ask it).