Since update, Verizon location services bundled with GPS

[Dave-in-Decatur]

In Settings > More > Locations services, since the Android 4.3 update there is now a single setting to enable GPS & Verizon location services. It used to be possible to enable GPS without Verizon location services, whether from the Notification settings or this Settings menu, but that is no longer the case. Turning on GPS, even from the Notification area, turns on Verizon location services too.

Moreover, Verizon location services used to come with a consent agreement, but that's gone too. So whatever VZW is doing (and they're not telling us!), we have to let them do it if we want GPS.

[Ann154]

Ugh! I missed that change when looking through the different settings options since the 4.3 update. I always and mean ALWAYS turned off the Verizon Wireless location services on my smartphones. Grrrrr.

[Dave-in-Decatur]

Me too. Didn't there use to be a charge for these services? Maybe that was VZW Navigation. I never saw a point to that when Google's Maps and Navigation were free.

As usual after major updates, it seems that defaults need to be re-selected. I went to navigate to a location last night and was asked whether I wanted to do it using Maps or VZW Navigation, and of course selected the former and made it the default. So it is possible to have GPS/VZW location services turned on without being forced to use VZW Navigation.

Suspicious as I can be of Verizon's motives, I don't think they can really charge us for location services without our explicit permission. I do note this, however, from p. 169 of the original S4 manual (back when you had to give explicit permission for VZW location services):

By selecting VZW location services, you are enabling Verizon Wireless and third-party authenticated and validated location-enabled services access to certain location information available through this device and/or the network.

I would have to assume that that data gathering is taking place every time we use GPS now--and without our explicit consent. Has anyone seen anything from Verizon that has a bearing on this?

OTOH, p. 170 of that manual has the following about the standalone GPS service that used to be listed separately from Verizon location services:

By selecting Standalone GPS services, you are allowing access to all location information by any third party through web access or any software or peripheral components you choose to install, download, add, or attach to the device or any other means. Enabling this functionality could pose certain risks to users of this device.

If anything, this sounds even scarier! But in the present state of affairs--since no updated manual or help ever comes with a software update--we have no idea who is collecting location data or what they might be doing with it. Not cool, to say the least!

[tikibar1]

AFAIK, there has never been a charge for VZW location services, only VZW Navigation.  I'd prefer the previous way of turning on whichever location services you prefer rather than them now being bundled into one as well.  I'm assuming that all phones will eventually be set up this way; not cool at all.

[Dave-in-Decatur]

Yes, I think that's right about paying for VZ Navigator, not location services. I got them mixed up.

I wonder if European carriers are able to do this crap, since the privacy laws are (I hear) much stricter there.

[kmamedia]

Now,when you click on Google Maps, you are using your DATA plan, for navigation.

[Ann154]

kmamedia wrote:

Now,when you click on Google Maps, you are using your DATA plan, for navigation.

You were using the data plan before too since it was needed to download the maps to the phone. Unless you downloaded the map data on wifi prior to disconnecting the cellular data connection.

[#8]

kmamedia wrote:

Now,when you click on Google Maps, you are using your DATA plan, for navigation.

Google maps have ALWAYS used data to download the maps. GPS is only used for navigation. This is why Google gives you an option to download the maps to your phone so you can access then without using data or if there isn't a data connection. if you tried to use Google maps in a area without a data connection guess what NOTHING will show up. GPS is just a signal it doesn't and has never downloaded maps

[kmamedia]

Standalone GPS did not use any Data, if you used the Navigation Apps(Blue arrow)Now it's not there anymore, it was deleted with the update.Now if you use Updated Google Maps, you will use the Data Plan, because you constandly download new Map pages and connect to the cell towers, for trisecting the signal.Verizon claims it is more accurate.AND MORE PROFITABLE!