Murphy’s Law mandated that two weeks after I stopped using my BlackBerry Pearl, swapping it in for a BlackBerry Storm, Verizon actually unlock GPS on both the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 and the BlackBerry Curve 8330.
Of course GPS on the BlackBerry Storm is still wearing shackles as you are forced pay a monthly subscription to use VZNavigator in order to know where you are. This is still the case for the BlackBerry 8830 as well. My guess is that a lot BlackBerry 8830 users actually subscribe to VZNavigator and New BlackBerry Storm uses are trying it out before eventually cancel it and buy a GPS device like all the BlackBerry Pearl and Curve users did.
Update: I still haven’t gotten it to work on my Storm, however, GPS is unlocked and works with BB Maps and a few other GPS applications.
[Via HoFo]
Similar Posts:- Are Next-Gen BlackBerrys Coming Out Too Close To Each Other?
- T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8320 Update Available
- BlackBerry OS 4.5 Now Available for CDMA BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry Curve
- OS 4.7.0.141 Didn’t Make The Grade… I Think I Can See Why
- Why Doesn’t Verizon Support VCast On Their BlackBerrys?
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
GPS is working fine on my Storm with BB maps and Google maps. Not sure why you think it’s locked.
GPS works fine on my 8130 with BB maps, but that’s it… no Google Maps…
How do you get the GPS working with out that Verizon subscription. I just picked my up in the store yesterday they gave me a coupon to try VZNavigator free for a month. I just assumed that that was the only way to use GPS because the Maps application continually searches for satellites.
Details please. I have a Verizon Curve 8330. I have the GPS set to “Device GPS” and “Location On”. But still, Google Maps uses the approximation rather than the real thing and Berry 411 still says GPS is not available.
Sorry,
I left out the link when I first posted this…
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1468094&page=1&pp=15
Do you know if the BlackBerry Has to be activated? I have an old BlackBerry 8130 that has a busted microphone, but everything else works.
@Mark H.:
Try logging into your BIS account and resend your service books… also keep in mind I believe this only works if you have os v4.5 installed onto your device…
@JB:
No Google Maps, sadly, …yet… It’s BlackBerry Maps ONLY right now.
@Ben K.:
I would ASSUME so… since it does have to access the data network to pull up map information…
Uhhh why do people keep falling into the “You need VZ Navigator subscription for the Storm”.
Let me once and for all clarify. YOU DON’T.
Again repeat after me Verizon BlackBerry Storm’s GPS IS UNLOCKED without VZ Navigator.
There are a few 3rd party GPS applications that have reworked their GPS code to work with the Storm… Again… Without VZ Navigator subscription. I have tried them they work. Read that sentence again. THEY WORKED. I do NOT have a VZ Navigator subscription. Once the application is rewritten for the Storm it will work… FREE!
However, Google Maps has not updated their app to work with the Storms UNLOCKED gps. Reason being is on the Storm their are new API’s… BTW: There is an official statement on this in the Google Mobile Help group specifically on the Storm from a Google employee… It will be updated soon.
Anyone that says the Storms GPS works with Google Maps is wrong. They are mistaking Cell phone triangulation as an actual GPS fix. GOOGLE MAPS DOES NOT WORK ON THE STORM!
Let me repeat again. THE VERIZON STORM’S GPS IS UNLOCKED. YOU DO NOT NEED VZ NAVIGATOR.
How much more explicit do we need to be? Please rimarkable correct your blog post. I am tired of reading over and over misconceptions with the Storm’s GPS chip.
Verizon 8830WE here, running OS 4.5.0.101 (unofficial). BBMaps does get a GPS lock as of some time yesterday afternoon (Thursday 12/4). Google Maps (v2.3.2) still is unable to get a fix.
My suspicion is that (as I was told when I complained to Verizon corporate) the applications to do GPS MUST go through Verizon’s 3rd-party certification process. The BBMaps in OS 4.5 (and Storm OS 4.7)has, Gmaps has not (yet). I have never had VZNavigator so this isn’t a case of some vestige of it making this work now. Reports are all over the BB sites than 8130, 8330, and 8830 running a 4.5 OS on Verizon all work now. Too soon to know what other apps this may have been unlocked for.
@Brian:
Link? (to the google help post)
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/thread?tid=777251d49c2c3dac&hl=en
And I quote:
“Thom (Google Employee) + 57 other people say this answers the question:
Hi all,
The BlackBerry Storm uses a highly-customized GUI, which prevents Google Maps for mobile from being viewed in landscape mode. We’re still working to integrate the app with this device, and we haven’t yet put out a new release since the Storm has launched. I reallize you’re all eager to use your internal GPS with Google Maps for mobile – and we’re working to get an update soon. I can’t give you a timeline as of today, but I’ll update this group when I can give a more accurate picture.
Best,
Tom”
Blackberry maps works, very cool. We have unlocked GPS, yipeeeeeeeee
I must have been lucky with Google Maps when I first tested it…tried at a different location and it’s off by half a mile (I’m a Navigator subscriber, so I have little need for Google or BB Maps). BB Maps however is dead on.
Can someone tell me how to get BlackBerry Maps onto my BlackBerry Storm so that I can use GPS without having to pay for it?
I tried to download it from the BlackBerry website but it said that it was not compatible with my BlackBerry.
It sounds like many of you seem to be running it just fine but I have no I idea where to get it an install it from.
Verizon shipped the phone with unlocked GPS and anyone with any other Verizon BB can update to 4.5 to unlock the GPS..this is why blogs fail.
Thanks for the tip. I downloaded 4.5 and the GPS works great for Blackberry Maps. Some other apps seemed to have trouble but it’s a good start.
Nice that Verizon finally saw the light.
People, DON’T mistake it working in BBMaps as meaning it will work for all apps! Verizon has the ability (given to them and every other carrier by RIM) to controlwhich exact apps have access to what hardware in a Blackberry. Until Verizon turns it on for a specific app, it sont work. That’s the point of their certification process. Whatever app you want to work fully on a Verizon Blackberry, you need to encourage the developer to submit it to Verizon for testing/approval. Otherwise it is unlikely to work fully as designed, and just MIGHT get completely shut down by V at some future time.
Nice to see that we have use of bb maps now
Just called verizon tech support. Said that the pearl 8130 bb maps is dependant on vz nav. yes is have updated 4.5 and updated books over the air. Tech still said bb maps will only show location thru vz nav service.
Not true. I do not have VZ Navigator enabled on my Verizon 8130, but the internal GPS works fine with Blackberry Maps. In fact, it works quite well!
You can go to the Verizon site and get a download. They seem to be evasive about this upgrade but from what I understand, they were forced to unlock the GPS capability by a lawsuit loss. I talked to two VZ customer service people and the only concern is that if you use an the Blackberry Enterprise Software, (You get mail from your business servers) you will have to reconfigure that after the download as the download wipes the BB back to stock condition. VZ link below………..
http://vzam.net/blackberry/
Understand from what source? Speculation I’m sure. There IS a class action lawsuit about this (for over a year), but it hasn’t even had its first hearing yet.
So….anybody find any other apps that are working yet?
Verizon is apparently playing some sort of PR game regarding unlocking the GPS. It will be really cool when Google maps working as it will be able to use the less accurate cell tower triangualtion when the GPS signals are unavailable due to buildings etc. Realize that neither Blackberry Google Maps provided turn by turn instructions like VZNavigator does. However, the monthly charge for VZNavigator will pay for a dashtop Garmin in about a year and for a little longer a Garmin that provides hands free telephone via bluetooth. There is a free(at least for now) download at Nav4All that does give turn by turn instructions but doesn’t work on any Verizon phones that I know of. Berry411 still doesn’t work with GPS yet either.
I blackjack 2,and every gps app I have tryed
works,and mess with blackberry,but if have
to have one try this amaze gps app,and
this a very good navigator.
can anyone tell me how to unlock my blackberry curve so that i can use it with att and t!!!
A Verizon Curve doesn’t have the radio’s in it for ATT or TMO. So you can’t “unlock” it to work on ATT or TMO.
I have a BB8130 from my company. I upgrade to 4.5 from the Verizon website. I tried both BB Map and Goggle Map. Neither worked. But last night BB Map suddenly worked, it pin-pointed to my house. I was so excited. However, it stopped working this morning. Now BB Map just keep searching for satellites …
Any clue? Thanks!
– Kang
Will anyone with a Blackberry and Verizon service please see if Geocache Navigator will work. geocachnavigator.com Thanks.
All of you have no idea what you’re talking about. Verizon phones, still, to this day do not have unlocked GPS. What you’re all experiencing is called Cell Tower Triangulation. It looks just like GPS, but what it’s really doing is calculating the distance between cell towers.
Looks like GPS, but is definitely not, GPS (and nowhere near as accurate).
To the poster. You are making assumptions and you are wrong. The BB8130 for verizon has unlocked GPS but for bbmaps only right now. I am positive of this. Under options it now shows “internal GPS” which it never did prior to v4.5. The accuracy is right on.
Go download the update and try it yourself. Google Maps is still just triangulation.
Anyone know if it’s possible for me to unlock an AT&T curve to use on my Verizon service?
Is it possible to unlock a Verizon Blackberry Pearl 8130 to use on AT&T service?
dl’ed 4.5 from verizon, installed it and made sure that BB Maps was updated in the Desktop Manager and WHOBAM! it WORKS! sweet deal! so stoked. email me if u need help/questions cause this is sweeet
ps Ergodyne YOU ARE WRONG. perhaps you should try it and then you can see for judge for yourself youing empirical evidence that it does ineed work; what you are referring to is what happens with Google maps, etc this using internal gps
Screw It! Just leave the big VZ and go with a carrier that doesn’t hinder a devices capabilities… like uh, we know which ones Google Maps does work with (here’s a hint: ifone).