The Verizon 8830 (and perhaps others too) have GPS disabled. That means I can't use GSM to find my way around Europe ... unless I lug along my old Magellan.

Question 1: Is there a service (other than Verizon) that offers an 8800-series BB that supports CDMA (US) and GSM (Europe), international roaming and email [so far Verizon is okay ...], and GPS mapping with maps for Europe? I'm willing to pay for the added features, but Verizon says no. Period.

Question 2: If GPS mapping is NOT available with any US carrier's BB 88xx units, is there a European map application I may purchase and load on the 8830 ... for just plain old map inquiries, no GPS? That would be a short-term (low-tech) alternative.

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Okay, I've done some homework. After many years with Verizon I'm canceling the order for their 8830 and switching to Sprint.

Verizon may have the edge in the US (provided you are willing to lug around a GPS receiver) but for my requirements it's a short sprint over to Sprint.

Perhaps, someday, if Verizon unlocks GPS (and unlocks the SIM card so I can reduce my cost in Europe) I might return. But today Sprint wins.

Adios, Verizon!

Welcome to the forums,
You are a bit confused. The Verizon 8830 will work fine in Europe. That is the whole reason for that device. It doesn't have the GSM disabled. The only thing disabled on the the 8830 is the built in GPS.

You can still use the mapping applications just without use of GPS location finding-meaning it won't put your current location on the map. You'll have to figure out where you are on the map and how to get there. That being said, you can get a Bluetooth GPS receiver and use that for GPS with the 8830.

The Sprint 8830 has the GPS enabled.

I made the correction to the original post.

Thanks for the feedback ... gives me lots of options now.

Also, I've used Google Maps in Europe. It works fine.

The Sprint 8830 supposedly has GPS enabled and is essentially the same device as the Verizon 8830.

No supposedly about it, I use the Sprint 8830 and BB maps (along with yahoo and google maps) and GPS extensively.

There was an article I read today that mentioned VZ disabled the use of the GPS for BB Maps. It may have affected Google Maps as well. VZ only supports VZ Navigation.