The older OnStar system, which operates on analog cell phone network, will be going off-air on January 1, 2008.

 

In 2002, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC (News - Alert)) had decided the shutting down of analog cell phone networks by February 18, 2008. The analog network is used by about 500,000 OnStar-equipped cars, according to an Associated Press (AP) report.

 

After the FCC decision, General Motors (News - Alert) Corp., which owns OnStar, reportedly started modifying its cars. However, AP reports that some cars made as late as 2005 can’t use digital networks for OnStar, nor can they be upgraded, and for some cars made in the intervening years, GM provides digital upgrades for $15.

 

In 2006, OnStar said it had let customers know of the shutdown with a posting on its Web site, and this year, the company states that it had notified all affected customers.

 

“As a result, beginning January 1, 2008, OnStar service in the United States and Canada will be available only through vehicles that are capable of operating on the digital cellular network,” OnStar stated in the message to its customers. “We at OnStar sincerely regret that we will not be able to provide OnStar service to vehicles with analog equipment after December 31, 2007.”

 

The commercial service on analog network reportedly began in 1983, and AP states that it was the first time coverage areas were divided into smaller areas known as cells, a move that boosted call capacity tremendously and made the modern wireless industry possible.

 

The consumer products most affected by the analog sunset, aside from cars, are home alarms.

 

Even after the FCC ruling, as the analog network still had the widest range, companies build analog wireless functions into millions of devices from automated meter readers, to irrigation controls and truck-tracking systems. Analysts state that devices like this are the ones that will be most affected by the shutdown, while cell phones are relatively cheap and easy to replace.

The prominent carriers with analog service are AT&T (News - Alert) Inc., Verizon Wireless and Alltel, and they have been informing analog customers about the shutdown and offering them new digital service plans and phones

 

Alltel (News - Alert) and AT&T are also reportedly phasing out networks that use a first-generation digital technology known as D-AMPS or TDMA.