General Motors has finally realized that its hands-free OnStar communications system might work better as a retail item than simply as a way to entice customers to purchase GM vehicles. At a press conference on Tuesday night, the company announced it has partnered with Best Buy to sell an after-market version that can be installed in non-GM cars and trucks.

The retail edition of OnStar will be sold as a rearview mirror that the company says is compatible with 99% of the top-selling non-GM vehicles made in the last decade. It will go on sale this spring at Best Buys nationwide for $299 with monthly service plans starting at either $18.99/month or $199/year.

OnStar says the mirror must be professionally installed and all Best Buys with garage bays (roughly 1,000 of them) will offer the installation. However, an exec for the retail chain confirmed to Consumerist after the press conference that customers are not locked into using Best Buy for the installation.

Additionally, while no details were given, OnStar did say in a statement that the new add-on will eventually make its way into non-Best Buy retail stores.

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