“Research shows that the amount of mobile applications for the Android and iOS platforms is likely to double in the next 12 months. Customer demand is driving a new marketplace for a variety of automotive applications.

With this step we believe we can broaden our portfolio, grow our business and enable our customers to achieve additional functionality from their vehicle using their computer, smartphone, tablet or other devices.

—OnStar President Linda Marshall

Internal research of OnStar’s customer base revealed that emergency and security services are most important to customers followed by navigation, vehicle information and diagnostics. OnStar will continue to develop and expand services in these areas, but the proprietary application interface could lead to a further-customized experience for many customers.

We feel that opening up our proprietary API to developers will ensure that OnStar continues to keep customers connected in ways they never thought possible.

—Eric Litt, chief information officer, OnStar

The first partner to use OnStar’s API will be RelayRides, the world’s first peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace that holds an exclusive partnership with GM. With RelayRides, millions of GM vehicle owners will soon be able to leverage OnStar to rent out their idle cars with the owner controlling the rates and availability of the car. By using the OnStar API, RelayRides will allow its renters to use remote features with their smartphones, such as unlocking GM vehicles to access the reserved car.

In the past, OnStar has worked on API-based solutions with companies like Mapquest and Google to provide the company’s eNav service. An API solution was also used in the company’s beta test of Facebook Audio Updates.

OnStar will make its closed API available in the first half of 2012.