[fsa3]

Using the bb api is it possible to implement functionality like google maps where am I? I'm talking about the ability to find a bb's location using cell towers not gps. Anyone have sample code?

[hrbuckley]

The Location API provides an interface to do this, but it requires support from your carrier. The only carrier support for this that I am aware of is for their own additional products (for additional charges).

Scuttlebutt says Google, knowing everything, has the location of all cellphone towers. Maps gets the signal strength of the tower(s) the blackberry can receive. So to start you would need the tower locations for at least your local area.

[fsa3]

I guess my question was whether or not how google was doing this was using public information - seems like it's not. That sure would have been cool.

[Dan East]

They have to be registered with the FCC, which is public information. Sort of like the call signs for television, radio and amateur stations. Where to get a compiled database for free is the real question. This site is one (of probably many) that dish out the data piece meal:
Cell Phone Towers - Mobiledia

[Ozarka]

Originally Posted by fsa3

I guess my question was whether or not how google was doing this was using public information - seems like it's not. That sure would have been cool.

My understanding is that Google harvested data from Google Maps users who had GPS and then mapped that to cell tower information. That is, they took the info from the BlackBerry API (e.g. GPRSInfo class) and uploaded that to their servers with a reading from the GPS. When they had enough data, they had the non-GPS users just download a location based on the cell info.

So to reproduce this, you'll need to buy a list from someone, ask Google to open their API, or get enough users to harvest the data that Google did. You can do some amazing things with a massive user base.

[Dan East]

Nah, they just downloaded the data from the FCC. The "Cellular" zip file contains a list of all cell towers in the US, including their call signs and exact geographic position.

In our area Google Maps shows the exact location of each cell tower. We have two major interstates running through our area. If Google really took GPS samples and averaged them together, then the towers would appear to be sitting on the interstate, because 90% of the data in our rural area would have been from people driving on the interstates.

Dan

[sajika]

I found this links while googling. It uses a 'secret' google API to get the location based on cell. I havent tried the code yet.

Here is the link

Poor mans GPS

[sajika]

I am going to give this a try for a project we are doing. I can't use the 'secret' google API

Does anyone know what API I can use to get the call sign from Blackberry? Once I have the call sign, I can use the FCC data to find the lat/long.