[Taikun]

???

thoughts?

[NJBlackBerry]

It doesn't have GPS hardware in it.
Hack away.

[Spamdumpster]

You don't need to hack the device to put GPS software on it -- any software that runs on the 8100/8800 should also run on the Curve. You'll need a GPS puck to run it, though.

[Taikun]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

It doesn't have GPS hardware in it.
Hack away.

i thought it was just software based GPS program...

most newly crearted cellphones technically have GPS-like capabilities...without additional hardware...

there might be a program/decoder

[trevolly]

The 8300 comes with the Blackberry Maps system which when you start up shows a map of the world. You can then select a start point and an end point and then plan the route. It shows you a detailed step by step route or lets you view it on the map.

As you zoom in it communicates with the GPRS and downloads data so expect data charges to be incurred, (I dont know whether these data transfers would be included in your data bundles (I'm really talking about O2's Blackberry Unlimited bundles.

If you go in to options in Blackberry Maps it lets you choose the GPS source, this is where you could choose a bluetooth paired GPS reciever.

So you shouldnt have to "hack" the software.....

Speaking from experience alot of people in the UK are reporting large data charges when using the GPS system that the Nokia N95 has on it. You can download the maps and store them on a memory card and disable the GPRS data transfer.......maybe this will happen on the 8300...

[secrecyguy]

Your question is not very clear or you don't know how GPS works.

GPS is a hardware based device. You can not put GPS software in the phone and suddenly you have GPS.

The 8300 does have a map software already installed on it.

Since the phone is quite small, there's no way to hack it and install a GPS hardware in the phone. You have to get a Bluetooth GPS in order to get it on your 8300. So that means you have to carry two devices with you.

[secrecyguy]

Originally Posted by Taikun

i thought it was just software based GPS program...

most newly crearted cellphones technically have GPS-like capabilities...without additional hardware...

there might be a program/decoder

Just what I thought, you don't know how it works.

No, you are wrong. The new cell phones that have GPS DOES have GPS hardware built into it.

[NJBlackBerry]

The 8800 has GPS hardware in it. That's why Telenav works. The 8300 doesn't.

[BryanHarig]

I am hoping that the OS from the 8300 will be able to replace that on the 8800. I am unwilling to give up the internal GPS feature and extended battery life of the 8800 but I covet the A2DP, spellcheck, SDHC support (possibly) and better music player of the 8300.

The 8300 OS on an 8800 unit would be perfect for me. I would like to have the more spaced out keyboard but I am making the 8800's work right now.

[LunkHead]

Wait for 4.2.2 for the 8800

[BES admin]

I understand what he is asking, and would like to know the same thing.

All new cell phones are required to have built-in tracking functionality for 911 services. In the event of an emergency, 911 operators can lock onto your location by using the built-in hardware.

What I don't know is what kind of hardware is making it possible to do this.

I know there are triangulation algorythms used for some location based services, but I don't think that's what we are talking about here.

Again, from what I have heard, all devices produced must have tracking capabilities built-in for emergency tracking. There has been talk that "hacking" the hardware would allow you to use your device as a GPS handheld, similar to garmin and others, provided you have software like telenav on your blackberry.

Maybe someone who actually knows whatis being discussed here can answer.

Thanks

[trevolly]

I always thought that when you make an emergency call it is carried on a network supplier. Therefore when you connect to a ttramsmitter that is how they track where you are...

When we had the terrorist attacks in London a couple of years ago O2 disabled all "usual" network calls and only supported emergency calls. I dont think its got anything to do with "GPS" type tracking systems.

[bostonnerd]

Originally Posted by BES admin

I understand what he is asking, and would like to know the same thing.

All new cell phones are required to have built-in tracking functionality for 911 services. In the event of an emergency, 911 operators can lock onto your location by using the built-in hardware.

What I don't know is what kind of hardware is making it possible to do this.

Thanks

As part of the e911 FCC requirements all handsets sold since ~ 2003 had to provide e911 capabilities. The actual implimentation specifics depend on whether its CDMA or GSM. There are multiple ways to provide this, with GPS being only one of them so it's handset and carrier dependent. The thing to remember is that with non GPS e911 solutions the accuracy is only 150 - 300 meters. Not something I would depend on for a GPS mapping replacement especially while driving

[Fungineer]

Originally Posted by bostonnerd

As part of the e911 FCC requirements all handsets sold since ~ 2003 had to provide e911 capabilities. The actual implimentation specifics depend on whether its CDMA or GSM. There are multiple ways to provide this, with GPS being only one of them so it's handset and carrier dependent. The thing to remember is that with non GPS e911 solutions the accuracy is only 150 - 300 meters. Not something I would depend on for a GPS mapping replacement especially while driving

And it's also useful to note that while e911 has been in place since "~2003", that doesn't mean carriers have been compliant to it since then (or ever).
Most, if not all CDMA devices sold are e911 compliant because a) they're Qualcomm based and b) Qualcomm makes GPS receivers, which are in every phone as part of the reference design. Most EDGE phones are either *not* e911 compliant, or they rely on triangulation between cell towers (which is possible in TDMA but not very useful unless you know where your base stations actually are), or as in the case of the 8800, they have embedded GPS that supports e911.

[NCBuckeye]

Originally Posted by LunkHead

Wait for 4.2.2 for the 8800

When?

[Pizzle]

Originally Posted by NCBuckeye

When?

No one knows yet.

[BryanHarig]

Hopefully 4.2.2 for the 8800 wont end up like 4.2 for the 8700!

[Perfect Storm]

Originally Posted by BryanHarig

Hopefully 4.2.2 for the 8800 wont end up like 4.2 for the 8700!

Meaning...?

[BryanHarig]

Well OS 4.2 for the 8700 still isnt available months after its release. I hope the 8800 has access to a similar OS a little sooner than that.

Read the OS 4.2 thread in the rumor mill forum, it is like a roller coaster ride of hope and disapointment!

[John Clark]

OS 4.2 is available for the 8700's. Has been for a while. Maybe not released by all carriers yet, though, but it's available.