South Dakotans who have OnStar equipment in their vehicles will be faced with either losing their service or spending money to upgrade it because of this year's shutdown of analog cellular signals.

A news release from the OnStar communications department said consumers with vehicles built before 2006 must either upgrade their vehicles to a digital signal or discontinue their use of the OnStar service. Vehicles built before then were made to work with the analog network.

Some of those older vehicles can be upgraded to digital and some cannot, according to the release.

Rapid City resident Bill Hodges said he was notified last year that he would no longer be able to use his OnStar service on his 2002 GM vehicle.

Hodges said he was given a choice between buying a new vehicle with a digital capability and getting a special subscription rate or discontinuing his service.

He doesn't want to buy a new vehicle and is unsure whether his vehicle is capable of being upgraded to digital.

Hodges is frustrated because he was forced to buy a cell phone to replace his OnStar.

"I don't really like cell phones all that much because I don't use them all that much," he said. "But as far as a safety feature, I felt that was my only option."

Hodges said OnStar provided many safety features and conveniences that he will miss. The system features a hands-free cell phone built in with a certain amount of minutes, a safety feature that notifies OnStar when the air bags have been deployed and a number of other services, Hodges said.

OnStar, a communications system built into some vehicles that provides drivers security through emergency 911 dialing and other features, was launched in 1996 on the analog network because it was the best format for the functions of the service at the time. But the Federal Communications Commission ruled in 2002 that cellular companies were no longer obligated to provide analog signals nationwide after Feb. 19, 2008.

The companies were given the option of using a digital signal after that date, an option that cellular companies Alltel and Verizon have indicated they will exercise in South Dakota. Verizon plans to have the signal shut down by the end of February; Alltel will shut it down by June 30.

The shutdown is forcing cellular phone users who have analog-only phones to switch to digital.

Verizon is OnStar's primary cellular carrier, according to Cristi Vazquez Chojnacki, the company's manager of communications. She said South Dakota vehicles with the analog system can no longer use the OnStar service.

OnStar customers whose vehicles can be upgraded to a digital system can switch to digital for a $15 fee. But they must also buy a one-year subscription for $199, Chojnacki said.

OnStar's news release says 90 percent of OnStar subscribers have vehicles that are either able to operate on the digital network or can be upgraded to do so.

Company officials regret the cellular industry's decision to discontinue analog service, according to Bill Ball, OnStar vice president of public policy.

"Like our analog customers, we would have preferred that the cellular industry continue to support analog technology beyond 2008," he said.

Chojnacki said people wondering whether their vehicles can be updated to digital can consult their local dealers or go to the OnStar Web site at www.onstar.com.

The OnStar system is equipped on certain GM, Lexus, Volkswagen and Audi vehicles.

Contact Ryan Woodard at 394-8412 or ryan.woodard@rapidcityjournal.com