Over the past 20 years advances in technology have transformed communications and had a consequently massive impact on how people live and work, so it may come as no surprise that the latest development could have significant impact on the fleet sector.<\/p>\n
A business version of OnStar, a system of mobile communications pioneered in the US, is now to be offered to fleet operators in Britain as a UK version of a new European mobile communications network, Fleet News reports.<\/p>\n
It stated that OnStar, which is now being launched as standard on all new Vauxhalls, will be made available as a business-specific version for fleet operators.<\/p>\n
The plan is to make the satellite-navigation based information system compatible with business needs and available by the autumn.<\/p>\n
Product manager Sarah Nicholson said: "We regard this as a feature with enormous potential across our model portfolio and some fleet management features are included in the standard package that will be built into every new car.<\/p>\n
"But it is important that we also offer fleet-specific services and we are working to introduce these in quarter four."<\/p>\n
The OnStar system is not new, having been introduced 18 years ago. It has seven million customers in the US, Canada and China. However, the UK version will have its own specific features, including connections to up to seven devices via a 4G 2WiFi network, plus support from a call centre based in Luton.<\/p>\n
Among the advantages of the system are that it will flash destination addresses on their dashboard navigation screens, while there will even be a mobile app to give them oil and tyre pressure readings on their smartphones.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the system at the Geneva Motor Show, Ms Nicholson said drivers can even unlock their doors automatically through account verification, so they "never have to worry about locking their keys in the car again".<\/p>\n
Opel\/Vauxhall chief executive officer Dr Karl-Thomas Neumann said the system will "make driving safer and more relaxed" for fleet customers.<\/p>\n
It could just be that life is about to get much simpler for those working in the fleet sector.<\/p>\n