[j-slatton]

Sounds interesting though no confirmation from what I can see that it will work on BBs.

Garmin's Mobile XT turns your phone into a GPS superstar - Engadget

Garmin Mobile(TM) XT: Plug 'N Play Maps for Your Phone

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=138&pID=11413

for 99 bucks and no subscription preloaded on a microSD card? Wow. Now if only my GPS signal didn't keep dropping on my 8800


UPDATE:

The Garmin Mobile XT product mentioned in the above links DO NOT WORK on BBs according to the Garmin product support center (two calls just to confirm).

It will work in other phones that run Symbian, PalmOS, and Windows Mobile.

So, looks like a Subscription based, OTA service is all we get. Poop.

[Stinsonddog]

Not sure this works with the Blackberry. Did you see that somewhere?

[jeffabcc]

Originally Posted by Stinsonddog

Not sure this works with the Blackberry. Did you see that somewhere?

Oh yeah! Check it out here:
Garmin | Garmin Mobile

It looks like every currrent BB is supported, both units with and without internal GPS.

It is a subscription, for $99/yr. so it's not all that much cheaper than Telenav, and it ties up your microSD slot, so it's not quite perfect. But I would assume it will work where there's no cell service, since the maps are on the SD card.

Interestingly, if you say you have a Sprint 8830, it says no additional hardware is needed and offers a subscription for $99. If you say you have a Verizon 8830 (that's me) they'll sell you a package with a BT GPS. I assume my Holux 240 would work. The question is will the internal GPS work when VZW gets around to enabling it, or will VZW lock you into VZ Navigator

[pbaird]

Doesn't look like you can try it first though. Their website has improved a lot in regards to the product, so at least it looks like it is finally a real product. I'd sure like to see it first though, the specs tab says no 3d maps, but the screenshots show a 3d map view... not sure what to make of that.

I'd love to see Telenav get some competition, I'm sick of their lousy service and indifferent attitude.

[hulkmax]

there is no subscription fees what so ever. one time $99 that's it.

[Stinsonddog]

Originally Posted by jeffabcc

Oh yeah! Check it out here:
Garmin | Garmin Mobile

It looks like every currrent BB is supported, both units with and without internal GPS.

It is a subscription, for $99/yr. so it's not all that much cheaper than Telenav, and it ties up your microSD slot, so it's not quite perfect. But I would assume it will work where there's no cell service, since the maps are on the SD card.

Interestingly, if you say you have a Sprint 8830, it says no additional hardware is needed and offers a subscription for $99. If you say you have a Verizon 8830 (that's me) they'll sell you a package with a BT GPS. I assume my Holux 240 would work. The question is will the internal GPS work when VZW gets around to enabling it, or will VZW lock you into VZ Navigator

I think these are different services. I am not still not convinced this is the SDCard for the BB. I think this might be the OTA mapping.

[pegb856]

I agree, I just went to the Garmin site and did some digging. It appears to me that the only products available to BB phones are OTA applications. Bummer I was hoping for downloadable maps. We'll have to keep our fingers crossed and hope they get the hint real soon.

[pbaird]

Originally Posted by hulkmax

there is no subscription fees what so ever. one time $99 that's it.

The $99 is for 1 year. It is a subscription, they just make you pay up front for the year, and state very clearly right before you click to authorize that it is non-refundable and non-transferrable.

If it was monthly, I'd try it out and cancel if I didn't want it. Not going to gamble on $99 that I can't get back.

[Stinsonddog]

Did I mention that I think their CS is terrible. They have left so many emails unanswered.

[jeffmik]

The Garmin software is by far the best for the 8830 that I've tried - Mapquest, Telenav, BB Maps and Google. It seems to find satellites the quickest when you startup and most importantly, when you are entering addresses it has direct input and doesn't make you open a text box. It doesn't ask for the city, just state or province, so it saves a couple steps over its competition to finding your destination.

The biggest drawbacks to any of these programs is that if you receive a call during navigation it all gets put on hold - an issue if you're close to the destination but Garmin seems the fastest to automatically reconnect.

I don't use navigation enough to really be excited about $10/month but its still cheaper for me than buying a standalone unit and I like that the maps don't need updating. I wanted to stay with a free map program but they just don't work as easily as they should.

I'd pay $99 for a one year subscription for this but it doesn't currently use the SD slot and I think I prefer it that way (everything stays more up to date)

[daves]

I saw it about a week ago and called them, as I had just also loaded telenav (and bought their gpsr for my VZW ).

apparently the garmin s/w only works with their own gpsr, at least that's what they said (and I think it is only packaged on their site with a receiver, not avail. as software only).

also they said there is no demo.

they also said it won't work on vzw regardless. must be that telenav pays $ back to VZW to get on their network.

fyi.

[pegb856]

Can anyone verify if it is true that this software won't work with any other GPS receivers? It would certainly be a deal breaker for me.

[j-slatton]

Originally Posted by pegb856

Can anyone verify if it is true that this software won't work with any other GPS receivers? It would certainly be a deal breaker for me.

First paragraph of second link I provided:

OLATHE, Kan., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Garmin International
Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN), today announced Garmin Mobile
XT, a unique, all-in-one software solution that turns select smartphones
with internal GPS into high-end Garmin navigators. This mobile phone
software application seamlessly pairs the phone's built-in GPS with
Garmin's software so that customers have the benefits of navigation
anywhere in North America or Europe. Unlike other mobile phone
applications, Garmin Mobile XT offers convenient preloaded maps and
includes access to dynamic content like premium real-time traffic alerts
and fuel prices, but does not require any monthly fees or subscriptions of
any kind.

So what we know at this point is that it will work on select smartphones. The article makes no mention on what phones. It does say that it WILL with the phone's built in GPS. It also says that it's a one time charge with no subscription.

So either A) this article is bogus or B) it's real and we just have no confirmation on whether it will work on a BB.

That's the main reason I posted this. I thought you smart people could dig up some more info on it and find confirmation.

[j-slatton]

Additionally, here is the official Garmin Press release from their website:

Garmin International - Press Release

And the link to the product which has more info than it did yesterday:

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=11413

What's crappy about that page is it doesn't show what phones are compatible. You have to go through Garmin's buyer's guide which I have little faith in. If it takes Garmin a few days to get accurate info on the product page, I'm sure they are lacking on the buyer's guide as well.

People, you HAVE to RTFA. Stop with the conjecture.

[Stinsonddog]

Crappy website, and crappy customer service marks Garmin's info for BB users. Enough said. They are can't get it right on what to tell BB users. I DO NOT believe for a minute that the SD card works in a BB.

[j-slatton]

Originally Posted by Stinsonddog

Crappy website, and crappy customer service marks Garmin's info for BB users. Enough said. They are can't get it right on what to tell BB users. I DO NOT believe for a minute that the SD card works in a BB.

Eh, you must hold out hope :P But you have to admit, it would be pretty sweet if it did...

I'm going to call these billies tomorrow and see what's up. On second thought, maybe I'll call a few times and average out the answers

[Stinsonddog]

Originally Posted by j-slatton

Eh, you must hold out hope :P But you have to admit, it would be pretty sweet if it did...

I'm going to call these billies tomorrow and see what's up. On second thought, maybe I'll call a few times and average out the answers

thats the most enjoyable post of the day. I want to see how that math works.

[Mark Rejhon]

Originally Posted by daves

they also said it won't work on vzw regardless. must be that telenav pays $ back to VZW to get on their network.

Apparently, it does but you need the external GPS.

I'm considering trying this out once I get a Curve 8310 -- when they confirm support for the Rogers 8700r. (probably works)

[jeffmik]

at the site Garmin | Garmin Mobile after going to the Blackberry section, you can see it says "as low as $99" for a one year subscription.

If you go to Handmark | Garmin Mobile Monthly Subscription for BlackBerry its billed as $9.99 a month but you can get your first month free and are able to cancel billing within the site (something that I can confirm because I've done it myself)

[j-slatton]

Originally Posted by jeffmik

at the site Garmin | Garmin Mobile after going to the Blackberry section, you can see it says "as low as $99" for a one year subscription.

If you go to Handmark | Garmin Mobile Monthly Subscription for BlackBerry its billed as $9.99 a month but you can get your first month free and are able to cancel billing within the site (something that I can confirm because I've done it myself)

Garmin Mobile and Garmin Mobile XT are two different products. One is a subscription and the other is an SD card with a one time charge.