I got this info from my Verizon inside sales rep yesterday, shes right on the money about everything she tells me, not for sure but sounds promising!! See her email to me below....

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Hi Tommy -
Just a quick note to say thank you for meeting me for lunch. I thought we had a nice conversation.
I just got off a conference call regarding the new blackberry and there was a lot of chatter about VZ Navigator & it looks like they'll be adding to the software upgrade for the phone as we discussed yesterday sometime either this summer or early fall right now - no promises, but that's what the plans are….
So just wanted to let you know that it was in the works! Thanks again -

Susanna xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Business Sales Associate
Verizon Wireless

Last I heard from our reps is they are aiming for a July timeframe, but could be as late as early September. Regardless it's in the pipes which is a good thing.

I do think it will require an update on the device though. Our rep wasn't too up on giving up a lot of details when we cornered him about it.

got basically the same response

VZ Navigator will (should be) available for the 8830 by the end of summer

hopefully the GPS will be enabled at that point and i can use Google Maps, probably not though, damn you VZ!!!

if anyone knows VZW they like to squeeze every penny the can get out of you.
So my bet will be its likely gonna be only available through vznavigator

I just tried to look this up on VZW's site, but can somebody tell me what the typical charge (outside of incurred airtime fees) for VZ Navigator is? Is it a download fee, monthly fee, or...?

Thanks for any info,
jax

edit: obviously i know this feature is not yet available for the 8830, i'm just trying to figure out what it costs for current users.

Monthly fee.

vz navigator link

hope this helps

thanks guys for the quick response.
can't wait for this to become available for my phone (if at all) so i can take it for a spin.

jax

Is the browser on the 8830 an RIM browser?

if you have a BB data plan it will always be the default RIM browser.

Thanks. Would you know how can I enable an IE browser (or something other than the primitive RIM browser)?

opera mini is only other browser and you cant visit alot of sites with it and it isnt secure at all

almost july... end of summer yet?

So if I were to pay the $9.99/mo for VZN, would Verizon completely unlock the GPS feature allowing me to use google or BB maps?

no they wont

I used a BB 8830 yesterday at a coporate store and google maps and BBmaps worked just fine, what am I missing here? If those programs work than does this mean the GPS is activated and working properly?

No.. Accessing the maps does not require GPS. The GPS feature that VZW disabled would allow the BBmaps, and google maps to display your precise location on the map. That allows for automatic navigation systems that give you turn by turn. Without GPS, you are just look at a software map.

Hey, thanks for the reply I stopped back on the way home and I know one of the sales reps and he said he talked to tech support and RIM, and they had NO answer so we went into blackberry maps and did a find me or what ever it is and you can access it or it would not work, than he left me and than came back and said its disabled because of specifications from VZW to BB/RIM.
No reason, just that, now coming from a programming background if someone new how and where to access the GPS, than maybe just maybe it could be fixed or the code modified to do this. But I doubt very much thats going to happen at all.

Coincidently when overseas not only is GPS still locked on the GPRS networks but the GPS setting doesn't even show a "source" anymore. Bizarre. -Pk

I'm actually working with someone who is trying to find a back door into the system to unlock the GPS functionality on VZW phones.

I spoke with both RIM & VZW today and they agreed the lock is a contractual obligation between VZW & RIM. All the functionality is there and, were it not for the contract, it could be enabled as it is on the Sprint phone today.

I completely agree with Dawg - if/when VZW gets their programming together with VZ Navigator, they'll probably restrict the use of the GPS to that program alone.

I'll add a new post if I'm able to get the GPS unlocked through my sources.

Why would (even) VZW do that. My guess is, once they get your $10/mo for VZW, they will unlock the GPS (so that you can use VZN) but it should also allow you to use any of the other available GPS services too.
1. As long as they are getting what they want (your $10/mo) why would they care?
2. The capability to restrict the GPS functionality may not exists (or may be difficult to build). RIM probably gave them the ability to turn it on or off, not to restrict how it is used.

This is all just speculation on my part -- I would like to hear from somebody that actually knows the answer.