Rumor Smashed: GPS on BlackBerry 8820 NOT locked!
The Internet was buzzing with a story that the upcoming AT&T BlackBerry 8820 would limit the built-in GPS functionality to only TeleNav. This meant that other GPS programs would not function. A couple examples would be BlackBerry Maps, or Google Maps. We recently spoke with TeleNav directly to try and find out the story. They didn’t have to much to say, because at the end of the day, they are not involved in those types of carrier matters, which is understandable. We have, however, received confirmation from an AT&T spokesperson who told us, "the GPS feature has not been locked on the BlackBerry 8820." Whether or not this ever took place and was undone (we believe this was bogus from the beginning) is irrelevant at this point. BlackBerry 8820 hopefuls, rest assured you’ll be equals to your fellow BlackBerry 8800 friends, and soon to be BlackBerry 8310 friends.
How about voice over Wifi?
Those Blackberry Cool guys came out with that rumor, what a joke site.
Yeah…….now only if Verizon would pull the stick out of their a55 and let us 8830 users be free with OUR GPS…….
BG: Have any information for us?
LOL screw bbkewl those guys are complete losers who make up shizz to get attention not real like u bg glad my blackberry 8820 will have not restriked gps though thanks!
Well, I have seen, in the last 30 days, an 8800 purchased from ATT on which the GPS definitely was locked .. and only could be activated by subscribing to the TeleNav service.
So, we shall see what they unveil .. but this was not a false rumor … maybe pressure (and the soon to be released Tilt) has finally convinced them to leave the GPS alone.
to bad the keyboard is horriable….ill stick to a 8320 from tmo
Now if it only had 3G…
Hm… I wonder if AT&T will be this nice with my HTC 8925 Tilt…
Blackberrycool are complete morons.
@ jeff b att or tmo don’t have hsdpa or Umts across the board yet. So there is no point. So ther is no real reson to throw the hsdpaumts radios that run on 850mhz 1900mhz an 1700mhz. More over the fff pretty much duped tmo in to buying 1700mhz spectrum wich is curenlty in used by fed gov agencies.
Dea nsa fbi dhs doj
I don’t care if its not across the board I just want it to have HSDPA 3G since I pick up HSDPA 3G on my Blackjack so it doesn’t matter if it isn’t across the board I just want it.
Galvatron, becareful I believe Rob. B is your doppleganger. I gues horid speeling is cotagius.
So, my big questions is when are we going to start seeing these 8820’s, they were anounced forever ago (or so it seems), yet I haven’t seen even one available in the wild yet.
Octothorpe: it’s on the ATT website now.
http://snipr.com/1qyzq
so do we have to edit an xml file in order to see the blackberry maps icon? can anyone post advice about how to proceed with using the built-in GPS from Blackberry? Or should I just download goodle maps?
Don’t know how true it is, but some sites are reporting that AT&T 8820 GPS is only good for TeleNav. If anyone has an 8820 let us know.
TeleNav is worth the extra money. With full voice prompts(including street names), it beats BB Maps, and Google Maps hands down.
And since it’s not a required option, you can turn the service on or off.
Sure beats carrying a phone and a real GPS.
I had the 8800 and download the BBMaps from BB’s site and the GPS worked flawlessly , either you dont know what your doing with the GPS or somethings whacked on your BB.
Lets see IPhone or BB8820
So, what are the chances of Tmo getting one of these? Any idea on that BG?
brad Said:
“so do we have to edit an xml file in order to see the blackberry maps icon? can anyone post advice about how to proceed with using the built-in GPS from Blackberry? Or should I just download goodle maps?”
Did you try http://www.blackberry.com/maps ?
Funny that the 8820 doesn’t have it pre-loaded, yet the 8830 from VZW DOES have it right there on the desktop (even though it doesn’t work).
I have the 8820, I just got blackberry maps onto my device today. It wasn’t the easiest of things to do. The hardest part was putting windows back onto one of my PC’s so that I could even use the BB desktop software. Harder as far as frustration that anything, I hate windows but anyway.
WARNING: Fully read the instructions before proceding, and even then proceed at your own risk. I strongly suggest doing further research if you aren’t 100% sure of what you are doing and or you use a different carrier from AT&T. Good luck!
1) Install the blackberry desktop software that came with your device on the CD.
2) Run the blackberry desktop software, connect your blackberry via the USB cable provided and create a backup of your devices contents.
3) Download the latest OS for your device, you can pick this up from AT&T’s site or who ever you get your carrier service threw.
4) disconnect your blackberry from your computer
5) run the install program for the blackbery operating system you downloaded from your carrier.
6) delete the ” vendor.xml ” file located at
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader
7) open folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files\
9) You either need to edit this file yourself or find one for your specific model and os version to replace it. I will assume you are going to edit it yourlself for explaination sake.
10) after opening LBS.alx in a text editor you need to find this.
net_rim_bb_lbs_ribbon.cod
Edit it so that it looks like this
net_rim_bb_lbs_ribbon.cod
Which was removing
AT&T (102), from the header area for this section of code.
and removing 102| from the vendorID section.
a few lines below this section of code you will find another section of code which says hide this from these
vendors.. again remove the 102 value for ATT users.
11) Save the file keeping the same name lbs.alx
12) run the blackberry desktop software
13) connect your blackberry, you should be prompted to upgrade your device
14) in the application loader pick and choose which applications you want reloaded onto your device, most importantly make sure the blackberry maps box is checked and then follow threw the install.
15) unplug your blackberry after the install has completed, allow it to reboot, this can take a little bit to do.
16) the blackberry maps icon should now be on your device and ready to use.
the code I tried to copy got filtered so good luck on that part..
again this is why you need to research further if you plan to edit this file yourself.
It doesn’t matter… still not good yet.
lacking the following VERY important features:
– 3G modem .. that is the reason why we need wi-fi so much! EDGE network really sucks and again we are not always close to a wi-fi hot spot are we?
– CAMERA … Yeah right! .. a better BB just without one of the most important accessories on cell phones/pdas nowadays.
need to say more?
Pahustus,
More and more companies don’t allow camera phones on-site for security reasons. The 8820 fills the sizable demand for powerful smart phones w/o a camera.