Verizon Wireless has unlocked the GPS on the 8330 Curve and the 8130 Pearl?
If you look up in the sky today, you may see some pigs flying as rumor has it that Verizon Wireless has unlocked the GPS on both the 8330 Curve and the 8130 Pearl. This apparently is not a cruel joke but an early Christmas present (or a long overdue upgrade, depending on your perspective). We have tested it ourselves and BlackBerry Maps indeed picks up the internal GPS. You can see that we have locked on to 8 satellites in the screen capture above. It only appears to work on OS 4.5 as BlackBerry Maps for OS 4.3 did not have the option to select the Internal GPS. We couldn’t get Google Maps to work, either – it still used the crude cell phone triangulation method to pinpoint our location. Wow – did anyone think this day would ever come? We sure didn’t
Thanks, Nate and everyone who sent this in!
what about other phone?! like Omnia?
It is a cruel joke. See: locked GPS on every smartphone in VZW’s lineup (if memory serves).
Also, I’m pissed that it doesn’t work with Google Maps. You guys think it’s something in Google Map’s settings that could be fixed? Or is this just VZW 90% unlocking for everyone except Google because they’re haters?
Anyone tried it w/ TeleNav or some other pay-3rd party app?
Ha, I switched just for this reason and was pissed when I read the headline – now I see that it’s not 100% working. No regrets, screw you verizon
About time. How about ALL the phones!!!! I am tired of FANBOYS claiming they don’t do this.
This works for BlackBerry Maps only, AFAIK. Telenav for Verizon launched on the 8130/8330 back in July–you need a business account and you need to dial *611 to add the feature. Costs the same as VZNavigator.
I just checked, my VZW 8830WE with 4.5.0.77 (downgraded from 4.5.0.101, system lag), BBmaps shows satellites on the phone. I drove around and it shows all around. Will try it with the Garmin blacberry maps and update you on that. Woooohoooooo!!!!!!!!!!! soon I will be on the storm………….after winter.
They probably didn’t unlock it just made the new BB Maps work with it. Like on the Storm.
Verizon is really not thinking straight on this one. They say it is for security reasons – so applications can’t track you without you knowing. But a person can go buy a bluetooth puck. Then they say they will start certifiying 3rd party devices. So will they certify a Sprint BB that has the GPS unlocked. Or will that be a requirement of their certification program. Sorry for the rant…
This is also working on my 8830 with 4.5.0.101
Is that Nashua, Merrimac, maybe Milford?
Our corporate rep mentioned this to us in mid-November. VZW is going to unlock GPS on all of the 8×30 series phones. I think he mentioned that once VZW makes the changes on their end app developers will have to update their apps (and maybe work with VZW?) to take advantage of the GPS. Or maybe that was just if you wanted to use AGPS…
where can i get 4.5? i’m on 4.3 now and when i try to upgrade through desktop manager, it tells me there are no available software updates.
When pigs fly then GPS over cellular will be useful. I can’t wait 45-60 seconds for a GPS lock in shitty coverage because I’m lost.
TomTom, go home.
I agree, Richard. There’s no way I’d consider replacing my Tom Tom with a cellphone’s GPS.
It is great to have it on your cellphone when you’re on foot, in a city, though.
Unlock it on my Storm and maybe I won’t send it back!
This is the website where you can download updates for Verizon Blackberrys:
http://vzw.smithmicro.com/blackberry/
@Sam, you need to upgrade your Desktop Manager first and then follow the instructions from there. It’s at the VZW website.
@user
you left vzw because of gps? lol good reason
Tom Toms/Garmins/etc are all stone-aged. Get with it. They always have outdated maps that get you lost anyways. Why do you think Garmin is trying to make a cell phone, and Tom Tom trying to make their app for cell phones? Telenav all the way, if you must have voice prompts. otherwise, google maps mobile is excellent (or bb maps if you are forced to), it’s got traffic info, directions, street view, etc etc etc… and it’s free!
@ Nate & Richard: The funny thing is, with aGPS your cellphone will get a lock FASTER than a TomTom with only standalone GPS. TTFF (time to first fix) is faster on cellphones, and they do a better job of tracking in “urban canyons” (i.e. Manhattan). In fact, with VZNavigator or other supported aGPS software on Verizon, you can even get indoor fixes that are much more reliable than what Google Maps provides.
The only advantages of a TomTom/Garmin unit is that they are fixed function devices so the software runs “faster”, they can load maps faster off device memory, and they have larger screens than your typical handset. As cellphones get more advanced, these advantages will disappear.
@ Dave: BBMaps is already “unlocked” on the Storm. Does it not work on your device (do you have a clear view of the sky?)
You’re missing the point, Verizon guy. If you don’t have a signal, aGPS on a cellphone is useless. Heck, the GPS is useless, period.
I think we all get the advantage of aGPS. You’re ignoring the big disadvantage of depending on a cellphone for your GPS, though.
Hopefully they’ll implement this accross the board.
I have a Storm on order but declined the VZW GPS plan (VZ Navigator)($9.99/mo). Will I be able to use BBMaps and will it give me turn-by-turn, or does that require VZ Navigator? This is my first BlackBerry phone and I don’t have it yet, so I’m clueless. Thanks in advance.
I have 8330 since this August and always had my GPS work with Google Maps, but not BB Maps which never worked with GPS since I got it. It came with OS 4.3 when it got it and now running 4.5.0.97. Maybe, I am a minority on this, but my GPS works perfectly with Google Maps including Street View. I do not subscribe to VZ Navigator.