Some BBs have GPS but AT&T lists it as Telenav GPS Navigator. Does that mean I have to subscribe to some service or can I get GPS for free (I think with the iPhone it's free). Also can I get voice commands without having to pay for an extra service?

Thanks

Telenav GPS Navigator is the application, and yes it has a fee. If your BB has a GPS or you have an external bluetooth one then I'd recommend Google Mobile Maps or Live Search Mobile as they are both free. Voice commands are available in Live Search Mobile, however turn-by-turn voice navigation is not available through either application.

Google Maps is great. Don't get suckered into the $9.95 a month with AT&T, you still need the $99 Premium Device to get what you want.

Google Maps

$99 premium? I just picked up my 8310 via radio shack and AT&T for $49.99 (2 yr commitment with PDA plan) and I Dl'ed AT&T Nav, 30 days free test run, $9.99/mo after that if I wanna keep it....

Yes, $10/mo is a little steep, but I like the talking, and I like the 3d maps that follow me...

What I don't like, NAVTEQ, their maps suck...

BBMaps uses TeleAtlas (Way better maps, better people) if there was an upgrade for BBMaps that gave it the same functionality as AT&T Nav, I'd snag it in a heartbeat!

I love BBMaps, I just wish it would talk... :(

That would be worth the $10/mo extra...

Even $100 upfront for the better soft would be worth it...

:(

Cheers!

Myk

IMHO, if you really need a GPS device, you would be better off to go buy a dedicated GPS unit rather than try to use the BB, especially for driving. Has more/better maps, points of interest, and better voice technology. plus the maps can be updated and you don't need cell service to use it.

On the BB (or any cell device) when you are out of cell coverage, no Telenav.

Did you check out the GPS section? Some real good stuff there.

On that I disagree, I would prefer one device.

And that is the one good reason.

No, TeleNav or (AT&T Navigator) is not free.

Hold the phone! So, you mean to tell me that AT&T GPS is a subscription service and the free services available don't provide turn by turn voice instructions/directions? What's the point of GPS if it can't give you turn by turn voice directions? Why is everyone always slamming Verizon for "crippling" the GPS and making you pay, when to get the same functionality with AT&T you have to pay as well??????

Verizon offers their VZ Navigator application for $10 per month, but they prevent other apps from utilizing the GPS functionality of the device. So, if you're using Google Maps on a Verizon device, it can only determine your approximate location based on cell tower triangulation. I believe that AT&T allows third party apps such as Google Maps to utilize the GPS functionality of the device, resulting in a more accurate determination of your location as compared to the same app running on a Verizon device.

Understood, but you still don't get turn by turn voice direction on AT&T with third party apps. Bottom line, if you want turn by turn voice prompts on AT&T or Verizon, have to pay for it.....

Nops, not at all. There are at least two third part applications that provide turn by turn voice directions on AT & T: amAzeGPS and Nav4All. At least AT & T allows these 3rd party applications to use the GPS. Based on my understanding, VZW does not...

Not that these applications are perfect. I've used amAzeGPS and it does its job pretty well. There are separate threads reviewing these apps...

Doesn't AT&T include this $10/month service for free with the iPhone? Or is the situation there the same as with the rest of the phones incl. the BB?

I don't know from where or whom you are getting those facts, but they are not, well, they are not facts. Actually, outright untrue.

AmazeGPS and Nav4All both provide voice turn by turn AND on AT&T.

GPS has a more limited definition than most folks realize. We'll skip the geeky part of it and specify, in this context, all it means is knowing your position - latitude, longitude and altitude.

If you want to see where that is on a map, you either need to plug those numbers into a map or get a GPS-aware mapping application to show you.

Some BB models have the hardware built in (essentially, a receiver that can tune into multiple satellites) to provide your GPS location data; all can work with external Bluetooth devices to get that. Having it built in means you don't have to buy, carry or tend to that one more piece of Bluetooth gear.

There's a ton of very cool GPS applications - a lot of them free - and a lot of them not free (but almost always worth it).

And in my exerience, the navigator software you pay for on a BB makes it a better navigator than most dashboard units - but your mileage may vary.

If you want to get somewhere from here or find something near you now, GPS can tell an application where you are, but it takes an application to make that useful to you.

Sorry if it sounded like I was stating fact. I read post #2 and was thinking that might have held true for any 3rd party gps app on AT&T.

Agreed. And as I stated, it has a fee meaning a price you must pay to use it.

I used the TeleNav app for about 3 days... Blech!!! Bad maps! Bad directions...

For $120/year (minus some pennies) the maps should be a little on the REAL side...ya know?

The only plus for TeleNav (NAVTEQ) is that I met some interesting people...
Of course, said people gave me the same info, "Oh, those roads don't exist anymore..." etc...

I'll stick with BBMaps...



Cheers!
Myk

Google Maps is great. It doesn't, however, have voice prompts which are, IMO, a must-have for in-car navigation (except maybe when I have a co-pilot). However, Telenav and some other GPS apps for the BB do. Whether you're "suckered" or not depends on your needs/wants.

It's not quite that simple. Telenav can continue on a route without cell coverage for a certain amount of time. It can't obtain new data or initiate a route without coverage though. IIRC some apps should download everything that they need at the start. Again, read up in this forum if you're interested in the pros and cons of any particular GPS app.

Having to manually update (and pay for) maps on a stand-alone GPS unit is a selling point? Be aware that some stand-alone units cannot be updated.

Same here. One of my big reasons for going BB was device convergence. Especially when traveling I don't want to have to deal with yet another gizmo, its batteries, cables, chargers, etc. There are enough of those as it is with a BB, iPod and laptop. Obviously, YMMV -- factor in your needs/wants when reading people's comments. GPS, like a lot of other things in life, isn't one-size-fits-all.

Generally speaking software on one carrier's BB will behave exactly the same on another carrier's BB (i.e. features are not gained or lost by switching carriers). There are some unusual exceptions but these tend to be apps that require service books that a carrier might or might not offer.

Must depend on your location or something... I've used it here and while traveling for the past year or two and it has been very good. Maps are accurate. Directions are good. Rerouting is very quick. Apparently YMMV (seems to be a recurring theme) though.

Agreed, TN has been spot on for me, even streets/roads opened within the past few months in my area.