I am getting a blackberry 8703e for work on Sprint PCS (I'm paying the bill). 2 questions:

1) Does Sprint PCS charge extra when using the phone as a modem?

2) Does anyone know about the GPS capabilities and how to use the phone as a GPS device?

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

(2) The 8700 series does not have a built in GPS solution like the 8800 series. You can use a BT GPS puck and either BB maps or Google Maps if Sprint doesn't have their own GPS application.

Disregard the post above about GPS, someone answered prior to researching... [EDIT] Sorry dubdub, looks like you thought he was just referring to the 8700 series. Either way, Sprint doesn't carry an 8700, they carry the 8703e only.

1. No, tethering does not cost additional on Sprint's Blackberry Plan. Get the Unlimited plan, just to be safe.

2. Yes. The Blackberry 8703e on Sprint's Network does have built-in GPS. It works wonderfully, and you can actually find that people on other networks are somewhat jealous. I personally pay the additional $10/month for TeleNav. I use it almost daily, and it is the most user-friendly program out there. TeleNav - Always find your way! to sign up. Think about how often you would use it, because $10 is a lot if you don't have a dire need for it, but since you're asking, I'd assume you'd put it to use. TeleNav offers a 30-Day trial after you sign up, which you can cancel at any time. You need to be outside for the GPS to link up correctly, but it can give you voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, a route summary, 2D and 3D mapping, and change routes as you miss a turn, or change the route if an area becomes a high-traffic alert.

There are other GPS programs, such as MapQuest Navigator, and BlackBerry Maps. Try the best, see if it's more than you need, and move down from there.

Good luck! I love Sprint's service. We get new model phones a little later, but hell, WE GOT GPS!!!!

Learn something every day. Did not know the 8703 had GPS at all.

It is disabled on the Verizon 8703e though.

Go to mobile.blackberry.com and download BB Maps, if it isn't on your 8703e already. My wife got hers yesterday, and it works great and costs nothing.

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll try out some of the free programs first and see if they are sufficient.

Appreciate the help.

So much for switching to VZ, I like being able to use my GPS on my phone. Telenav is great by the way. I used it on my nextel phones for awhile and had it downloaded to my BB. The 8703e is a great phone. Plenty of apps out there.