Verizon has unlocked the internal GPS on Pearl and Curve BBs for use w/BB Maps with the 4.5 OS.

Verified...set my Pearl to use internal GPS in Advanced>GPS and also in BB Maps, and BB Maps found my exact location.

How many forums do we need this posted in?

For VZW users this is big news, and many folks don't hang out in this forum regularly. Just ignore it if it doesn't apply to you.

It still only needs one thread started by you in one forum. Rules are rules...

One I have always respected. I'm not flogging some app or theme I'm selling, or posting repeatedly across forums to get help with some inane question. Cut us a little slack here...VZW folks have been waiting for years for this.

Fine... do what you want. But you're making it more difficult for people to follow this by having more than one thread for people to report their failures & successes.... I'm pretty sure that's why the rules are there.

And FYI - this does affect me and I appreciate the news. I hadn't heard it before reading your post. I'm a BES admin and have many VZW devices out there.

Thanks for the news. I visit here more than HoFo and the news is appreciated.

I am ignorant to a lot of this. So, does this mean that I do not have to pay for the GPS system from Verizon anymore? Does is work the same as Navigator? Thank you in advance.

P.S. Had I not seen this thread closed under general, I would never have seen this post. Thanks for posting.

No, this is not an audible turn-by-turn solution to replace the VZNav application. If you wish to keep the audible driving instructions, you will need to keep VZNav.

This is a simple locate-me type of solution, but does not include the enhanced functionality of the application they charge a monthly fee for.

I tried it on my VZW Curve. No luck. How did you get it to work?

I forgot to mention originally, added it to the first message, you need to be running the 4.5 OS.

You also need to load BB Maps if you haven't yet.

Also, go to Options>Advanced Options>GPS and make sure that GPS Data Source is set to "Device GPS."

You can also check the BB Maps options to make sure it is set to the internal GPS device as well.

Should work...someone w/a Curve posted on HoFo that it was working for them. You might have to go outside, and make sure you have a clear shot to the sky.

I figured In was on to something when while I was fiddling with my external bluetooth GPS and maps that I had tricked my phone somehow. As it turns out the GPS has been unlocked!!!
Fantastic.
This is good news. Yes it is a basic program but it works and it does give an exact location and is fun...
Good stuff!!
Yaesumofo

You're welcome...

I've tried to use VZNav w/my BB today with BB maps open and closed, and VZNav could not get a GPS fix. I have used VZNav w/my external BT puck, so it seems to indicate that VZNav won't work w/the internal GPS unless you pay the $10 monthly charge for that...

Windows Live Search also would not work, with BB maps open or closed. Also tried SendaFix from Virtual Views, and it can't see the internal GPS either.

It's a nice change from VZW, but it is pretty limited, BB Maps use only.

Also, my Freedom 2000 GPS puck would work inside my company's office building.

The Pearl internal GPS won't work (can't find satellites) so the internal GPS may not be as robust as some external pucks.

Great news! Just tested myself. I agree with the above, my BTGPS puck works in the office, have to take my 8330 outside (its cold) to p/u a signal.

It doesn't work for me.

I have OS 4.5 and have checked the settings.

BB Maps just sits there searching for satellites. VZNavigator, from the same location (indoors) finds the satellites immediately.

I don't want to go outside now because it is snowing and 17 degrees. I'll try it again this afternoon when I am forced to stand outside waiting for the bus.

--Ariel

So the internal GPS gets a fix in VZNav, but not in BB Maps? That's odd...if both are using the same GPS then they should have similar results...

You may try going into options>advanced>gps and refreshing it there. Sometimes I had issues getting a fix using google maps (with ATT) but the ATT Nav app worked great. Once I had a fix in the options then google worked well.

try sending down the service books to your phone..

in my service books, there is one called "Blackberry Maps (LBSConfig)" .. or something like that..

Is the procedure for re-sending the service book for BlackBerry Maps the same as for the e-mail service books, i.e. through the E-mail Settings icon? If not, how do you send the service book for BlackBerry Maps?

I re-sent the service books through E-mail Settings and BlackBerry Maps still can't use the GPS.

--Ariel

I am experiencing the same issues. GPS won't work.

options>advanced>gps>refresh.... Do it until the numbers aren't zeros anymore. Then try your apps.

There aren't any numbers on the Options>Advanced Options>GPS screen on my VZW Pearl...I'm inside right now, that might be the reason, but the only items on that screen are "GPS Data Source" and "GPS Services."

No other fields, no "Refresh" option on menu.

So unless those items show up when outside where the internal GPS can connect, it may be that the way VZW has unlocked the GPS (tied to BB Maps) means that some of the "normal" GPS functionality (like the position numbers you refer to on the GPS screen) isn't available to us.

You have upgraded to the 4.5 OS?

I believe the service books option on BIS only resends email service books, not all service books on the device. I could be wrong, but that's what I remember being told a while back...

no it resends all service books

Thanks, Dawg. Teach me to listen to people around here... ;)

no worrys. Thats how you get all the fun stuff is through the service books lol

Make sure you have location on not 911 only

and mine found me sitting in my living room didnt have to go outside.

How bizarre...mine stopped working for a while today.

I resent service books, registered on network (host routing table>Register now), did battery pull...all other settings confirmed unchanged from earlier today when it worked.

Then it started working again.

Just me? Anyone else having issues w/it not working after it worked?

Hhmm mine seems to be stuck on "Searching for satellites"

I re-launched BB Maps and started the GPS Navigation and it found me... sitting in front of my computer... Sweet! (Maybe a bit buggy but sweet!)

Now, does anyone know what effect using this GPS will have on my Battery, Memory (File Free), data usage? (I've gotten unlimited data but I am just curious)

Thanks for the heads up man!!!

BT GPS pucks have always been an option for VZW users.

Battery life decreases faster as long as you're using the receiver.
Memory shouldn't really be affected.
Data usage goes up depending on your usage of a GPS app that downloads maps or otherwise uses data.

Mine has stopped working again...it worked to find me once, but hasn't found me since.

Very flaky at this point, it seems, maybe that's why VZW isn't doing any announcements yet...

I can confirm this works on my 8830, yes 8830, running .101

Finally, I can throw off the chains of VZNavigator.

Wirelessly posted

8330/4.5.0.97

But yea kind of flaky, mine sometime loses me and searches for satellites, had on while driving though, updates very quickly and accurately.

I actually did get mine working. I disabled the camera geotagging feature (that doesn't work right now anyway). I resent the service books and reregistered. I rebooted. But I had actually done all of that except the camera geotagging disable before and it didn't work.

I was using YahooGo! last night and it is trying to use the internal GPS in its map function, however it never returns an error, nor does it return your location. I was inside when I was playing with it but thought I would mention in case anyone has the app and wants to play with it today.

Its not going to work for YahooGo! because it only works with BBMaps.

It is also working on my US Cellular 8330. In fact, it actually is spot on where by Garmin always locates me across the street.

Worked for me yesterday, but quit working today. I'm wondering if this was an accident?