OnStar Wins Deal With Subaru

Vehicle products and services provider OnStar this week signed on another major automaker as a customer. Subaru of America Inc. has agreed to offer the company's in-vehicle safety, security, and information services as a standard feature with high-end models of the all-wheel-drive 2003 Outback.

A one-year safety and security services subscription will be included with the OnStar package. But users will pay unspecified fees for voice-activated calling and Internet access.

OnStar, the wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corp., claims it has 1 million subscribers, but it doesn't specify how many are paying for the communications services offerings. OnStar products will be added to other Subaru models in the future.