I can't comprehed why VZW doesn't enable it and offer their VZNavigator service. I can see the argument that if they open it up, they will loose business to the competing GPS software, but the net gain for them would clearly be positive, as their profits go up as soon as they sign up the first VZNavigator account.

Verizon does not care about any of you!!!!
Switch to Sprint.
Not that they care about you either, but atleast they have the GPS nuggets you so desperately crave...

I hate dealing wih VZW, the only wireless store where you have to take a number to be waited on by a person who will refer you to another sales associate to help you select the car charger that you could have walker over and grabbed yourself.

just my .02

I couldn't believe the process I had to go through the last time I was in a Verizon store. A guy supervising the greeter that told me to use the computer to sign in....aacckk
To the topic at hand...with Alltel releasing the 8703e tomorrow, supposedly it is going to be pre-loaded with Tele-Nav but they are going to charge $10 to use it.

I don't think VZW left out GPS features to upset anyone...they are just late. My prediction is that GPS features will be enabled as they already are on other VZW PDA's.

Someone made a comment about parents wanting to track teenagers but VZW lacked a teen phone... that's changing. You'll see a few normal handsets that will work with Chaperone (VZW tracking service) shortly.

and where my friend might we find substantial rumour information regarding this?

I'm along with the rest of the P/O'ed crowd regarding how Verizon is a prick for crippling everything on their phones, unfortunately the ONLY reason I stay is because since they are the second largest carrier I not only talk to my whole family (7 Immediate 10 extended on a regular basis) but judging by my non verizon-verizon usage it appears most my friends ARE on verizon. I'd switch to Cing/Tmo if I could get the fam to switch. I like that GSM is the what the world uses, not the old stuff (not to mention their rates!)

I thought I read somewhere that vzw does not use true gps. What I mean is that I thought they I read somewhere that they use some sort of data from the phone which is then sent to the towers to calculate your position. So they make is seem like your phone has gps when it doesn't really have it. Especially since some of their phones are really small and fitting a decent gps receiver in a package that size would be tough.

I can see where gps on the phone would be great, but the flip side is would you want the man to be able to track you?

I think the rrason vzw doesn't offer the dervice is because they can't yet, after all vzw is the money making machine.

Perhaps a vzw tech comment.

This is why Verizon sucks... and Sprint RULES!
I am a Sprint user for life...maybe I am a little biased though...working for them and all...

VZW doesn't have to "offer" anything. The 8703c comes equipped with a GPS receiver. All VZW has to do is allow the GPS capability to work. GPS doesn't even use their resources. It uses the GPS sats that our tax dollars have paid for.

Their devices do indeed contain a 'true' GPS chip, however the processing is done over the network and a combination called assisted GPS (A-GPS). It is true that if you are in an out of network area, then you would not have a full fledged GPS system. The combination of reading GPS data, and tower information provides a better location algorithm than a regular stand alone GPS device, especially in a downtown location with all of the buildings creating poor GPS reception. The VZW device will work indoors too, and be very accurate. So it is TRUE GPS, just not a true standalone GPS device, its just assisted and that assistance can make the overall experience better.

Now VZW - Either offer up VZ Navigator for the 8703/7103e devices and charge us, or unlock the GPS restriction if you can't get VZ navigator working on the BB OS (lol). It's that simple.

Hello... Verizon? I'm still waiting!

What's enough signatures? Im switching to Sprint I think. I'm feeling bitter toward Verizon right now

signed the petition

8830 user here

By not buying a VZW phone or service. Pretty simple. Go with a competitor who doesn't cripple their hardware.

Done, left them for ATT. Crippled GPS on every BB they get? So Done. I've been with them, with the same number since 1995 (Bell Atlantic Mobile). I'll deal with the weaker network. It's not that bad but it is weaker. When I called to cancel, they didn't even try to keep me.

this is a waste of time they will never listen

yeah, no question Verizon is the best Voice service available, but the crippled devices, well, that's a deal breaker..I moved to cingular too.

But still waiting for 1000 signatures and I will deliver this to Verizon..

I moved to Cingular from VZW over this "crippling" issue (not just GPS, but everything else as well). I had been a VZW customer for 10 years and stuck with them because of the voice quality on their network, but enough was enough, and I switched to Cingular despite the SIGNIFICANT drop off in voice quality

Incidentally, I'm not being rude, but this is a complete waste of everyone's time. There is exactly zero chance that they'll open up GPS to third party apps (i.e. TeleNav, etc.) -- that would be completely out of character. Except for the "mistake" in the original release of teh RAZR V3c, I've never known VZW to permit anything "non-proprietary". Your only hope is that they can get VZNav working with it quickly; if they can't, they still won't "unlock" it to third parties because they "might" some day figure out how to get VZNav to work, and then what?

Just my two cents.

--Mav

Get a different service. I think once other carriers start getting better coverage Verizon's business model will cease to work. While focusing on the reception is important they are not going to be able to get away with offering mediocre crippled phones at outrageous prices for long. I went with Nextel because they give me 500 minutes + DC + Blackberry service for 39.99. This would probably cost close to $100 or more with Verizon and personally I think the difference in service and speed is not worth that high of a markup.