BlackBerry Curve 8330- GPS?

[sperri40]

Sorry if this has been posted previously, but I cannot find a thread addressing the BlackBerry Curve 8330 and GPS capability. I have downloaded InstaMapper, however I cannot get it to work. My phone seems to search for a satellite, but times out.

Can this phone allow GPS capability for directions and stuff?

[LOWFLYER]

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sperri40 wrote:

Sorry if this has been posted previously, but I cannot find a thread addressing the BlackBerry Curve 8330 and GPS capability. I have downloaded InstaMapper, however I cannot get it to work. My phone seems to search for a satellite, but times out.

Can this phone allow GPS capability for directions and stuff?

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Somebody please correct me if I'm mistaken but I believe the GPS in the 8330 is only enabled for VZ Nav.  Only the Storm and phones proceeding it have unlocked GPS. 

If a member answers your question, solves an issue, and/or helps you in any way that becomes beneficial....by all means hook em up with some Kudos!! Or mark the thread solved and give Kudos!!

[XtremeBerry · Accepted solution]

First make sure you are using the 4.5 OS and not 4.3. If you are using 4.5 then you must turn on your GPS by going to OPTIONS>ADVANCED OPTIONS>GPS>GPS SERVICES>LOCATION ON.

The Curves GPS is only unlocked for BB maps and is locked for third party apps. If you use it on google maps for instance it will only do tower triangulation and wont do turn based navigation.

The TOUR and Storm both have autonomous GPS which can be used on third party apps.

So if you want to use GPS on your curve turn it on and use blackberry maps. It works great I used it all the time when I traveled.

[sperri40]

Thanks for the responses, guys.

[ddmoon]

Can someone tell me why VZW has blocked 3rd party apps for the Curve.  I was told in the store that it would run them, just to find out that it doesn't.  From what i understand the GPS is unlocked for the Storm and Tour, is this right?  If it is then VZW should be ashamed of themselves.  {keep it courteous}  What a rip-off. 

Message Edited by WendyM on 08-25-2009 06:50 PM

[incredulous]

I agree that not enabling gps on the 8330 phone is ridiculous.  Worse yet, to charge a bunch of money to gain access.  There are ways to track security that do not need to be expensive.  RIM uses code signing keys to track all cell network access, so any malicious intent can be tracked back to the developer responsible.  There is not reason, other than greed, to block access on Verizon.  I am hoping that Verizon comes up with a more acceptable approach than there current policy, as so many applications are now location aware.  It is sad if Curve users are denied use of these apps.

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ddmoon wrote:
Can someone tell me why VZW has blocked 3rd party apps for the Curve.  I was told in the store that it would run them, just to find out that it doesn't.  From what i understand the GPS is unlocked for the Storm and Tour, is this right?  If it is then VZW should be ashamed of themselves.  {keep it courteous}  What a rip-off. 

Message Edited by WendyM on 08-25-2009 06:50 PM

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[BillDrew]

Can someone from Verizon please tell us why it is unlocked only for BBerry Maps?  No one is answering this one directly.

[StreetDocRN]

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BillDrew wrote:

Can someone from Verizon please tell us why it is unlocked only for BBerry Maps?  No one is answering this one directly.

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Hey, Bill,

I don't think you will ever get a Verizon rep to answer that question in the forums.  The only answer that I was able to find out from other forums was that it was considered a "security risk" for Verizon to allow GPS on 3rd Party apps.  I am not sure about that, but I am just curious, if it is a security risk, why do they allow GPS on 3rd party apps on the Storm and Tour?  I know that all of the devices with 4.6 and later OS have stand alone and assisted GPS functions.  Just my thoughts and opinioins here.

Doc

[StreetDocRN]

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StreetDocRN wrote:

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BillDrew wrote:

Can someone from Verizon please tell us why it is unlocked only for BBerry Maps?  No one is answering this one directly.

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Hey, Bill,

I don't think you will ever get a Verizon rep to answer that question in the forums.  The only answer that I was able to find out from other forums was that it was considered a "security risk" for Verizon to allow GPS on 3rd Party apps.  I am not sure about that, but I am just curious, if it is a security risk, why do they allow GPS on 3rd party apps on the Storm and Tour?  I know that all of the devices with 4.6 and later OS have stand alone and assisted GPS functions.  Just my thoughts and opinioins here.

Doc

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I may be wrong.  (I know...can't believe it myself).  The Curve 8520 uses 4.6 software and does not have GPS functions.  I know someone would have corrected me on that.

Doc

[killthespammers]

Just got new curve (after I was told it has GPS capabilities). Really **bleep** off now after spending 11 hours doing updates to get BB maps working after finding out Google and many other GPS apps will not work.

To get BB Maps to work, make sure you have updated Desktop Manager if you are downloading from that route. V 4.5 did not have BB Maps for me but V 4.7 and above did.

With that said, BB Maps is horrible. GPS location is awesome but the app is incredibly slow, the graphics look like something I did on the Apple IIe twenty years ago, there are no traffic alerts/status feature, the search features are a joke, etc. Other than the accuracy of the location, there is not ONE single feature on this app that stands out from what is available from third parties, not to mention all the features that are missing.

I think VZ is being really evil here and I am seriously considering ditching my new plan with them and going back to AT&T and their awful service. Bad AT&T is the lesser of the two evils in my specific situation.

[jsloey]

Yup... it's a waste and VZ navigator is only good if you're driving (on a road).

For those of us who walk, hike, bike or ride trails using snow mobiles or anything else you'll have to buy a separate GPS because VZ won't let you use your perfectly good Blackberry's GPS capability.

I know this really sucks but it's been their policy for years. I'm on my 3rd BB from VZ and they will not bend from their position. The few bucks they make from VZ navigator must be worth irritating their customers.

Buy a Garmon or a Tom Tom. There's no monthly fee and they work better than Navigator.

[jsloey]

Also... I was using an external bluetooth GPS with Google maps but the latest version of Maps warns that it doesn't support external GPS anymore. The one I had worked but sometimes had trouble . This might have been because it was cheap($40) or it might be why Google quit supporting them.

There is a petition online you can sign but it's been out there since 2006 and been ignored by Verizon despite the 2400 signatures:

http://www.petitiononline.com/vzwgps/petition.html

http://www.blackberryforums.com/gps-mapping/49311-petition-verizon-enable-full-gps.html

Personally I wouldn't mind paying a fee to get this unlocked just for the convenience of carrying only one device into the woods. Does anyone from Verizon read these? Probably not.

[MikeLG]

I just got a new 8530 with 5.0 software and it doesn't work either.

[Fishmister]

8530 is a Google map software bug.  They are working on fixing.

See this link

http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/thread?tid=7a0f816453c5a5ff&hl=en

[ddmoon]

Thanks Justin,  You're right, the mapping functions are fine.  There are a couple of golf range finder programs that work very well with other carriers.  I was told that the only provider that doesn't allow their app to run on the curve is VZW.  I've also heard from other customers that have tried to download general locator GPS programs without any luck as well.  Thanks again for your response.