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You are here: Home / BlackBerry / Verizon Unlocks GPS On BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry Curve

Verizon Unlocks GPS On BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry Curve

December 5, 2008 by Robb Dunewood 39 Comments

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]

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Filed Under: BlackBerry Tagged With: GPS

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Comments

  1. bluehorseshoe says

    December 5, 2008 at 8:37 am

    GPS is working fine on my Storm with BB maps and Google maps. Not sure why you think it’s locked.

    Reply
  2. Ben Pike says

    December 5, 2008 at 9:54 am

    GPS works fine on my 8130 with BB maps, but that’s it… no Google Maps…

    Reply
  3. Mark H. says

    December 5, 2008 at 10:13 am

    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.

    Reply
  4. JB says

    December 5, 2008 at 10:13 am

    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.

    Reply
  5. Robb Dunewood says

    December 5, 2008 at 10:23 am

    Sorry,

    I left out the link when I first posted this…

    http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1468094&page=1&pp=15

    Reply
  6. Ben K. says

    December 5, 2008 at 10:49 am

    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.

    Reply
  7. Ben Pike says

    December 5, 2008 at 11:12 am

    @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…

    Reply
  8. Brian says

    December 5, 2008 at 12:16 pm

    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.

    Reply
  9. DavidB says

    December 5, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    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.

    Reply
  10. Ben Pike says

    December 5, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    @Brian:

    Link? (to the google help post)

    Reply
  11. Brian says

    December 5, 2008 at 12:44 pm

    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”

    Reply
  12. PaulM says

    December 5, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    Blackberry maps works, very cool. We have unlocked GPS, yipeeeeeeeee

    Reply
  13. bluehorseshoe says

    December 5, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    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.

    Reply
  14. Mark H. says

    December 5, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    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.

    Reply
  15. H. says

    December 5, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    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.

    Reply
  16. JB says

    December 6, 2008 at 10:08 am

    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.

    Reply
  17. DavidB says

    December 6, 2008 at 10:34 am

    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.

    Reply
  18. Paul says

    December 6, 2008 at 12:57 pm

    Nice to see that we have use of bb maps now

    Reply
  19. bbuser75 says

    December 8, 2008 at 9:55 am

    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.

    Reply
  20. RB says

    December 12, 2008 at 8:51 am

    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!

    Reply
  21. S pump says

    December 14, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    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/

    Reply
  22. DavidB says

    December 14, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    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?

    Reply
  23. Spdyer says

    December 28, 2008 at 1:48 am

    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.

    Reply
  24. mike says

    December 28, 2008 at 10:00 am

    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.

    Reply
  25. kym says

    January 12, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    can anyone tell me how to unlock my blackberry curve so that i can use it with att and t!!!

    Reply
  26. DavidB says

    January 12, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    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.

    Reply
  27. Kang says

    January 13, 2009 at 11:19 am

    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

    Reply
  28. Frank says

    February 10, 2009 at 11:24 am

    Will anyone with a Blackberry and Verizon service please see if Geocache Navigator will work. geocachnavigator.com Thanks.

    Reply
  29. Ergodyne says

    February 20, 2009 at 3:27 pm

    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).

    Reply
  30. Eric says

    March 31, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    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.

    Reply
  31. Michael says

    April 20, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Anyone know if it’s possible for me to unlock an AT&T curve to use on my Verizon service?

    Reply
  32. Fabiola says

    April 24, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    Is it possible to unlock a Verizon Blackberry Pearl 8130 to use on AT&T service?

    Reply
  33. lucas says

    May 10, 2009 at 3:45 am

    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

    Reply
  34. lucas says

    May 10, 2009 at 3:51 am

    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

    Reply
  35. B.Owen says

    July 7, 2009 at 3:50 am

    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).

    Reply
  36. franklinmall says

    November 16, 2009 at 5:28 pm

    I finally figured out how to add addresses and look up businesses on the web and synchronize them to my Navigator’s “Favorites”. If anyone is interested here is the link: my.telenav.com

    Reply
  37. Ergodyne says

    December 16, 2009 at 10:48 am

    Yes, they finally opened it up for BBmaps, but they’re still blocking it for 3rd party apps. Google Maps uses assisted GPS which is triangulation and GPS so it basically has a hard time finding anything. Have fun supporting a company that doesn’t care about its customers.

    Oh and to the people asking about using their VZ phones on AT&T and the opposite. This is impossible, the antennae in the phones are not compatible with each others networks.

    Reply
  38. DavidB says

    December 16, 2009 at 11:24 am

    This is simple really. On ANY BlackBerry from Verizon that runs OS 4.5 or earlier, the ONLY app that can use GPS is BlackBerry Maps (and TeleNav IF your phone is corporate liable).

    True GPS is unencumbered on ALL recent models 8530 Curve, 9530 Storm, 9550 Storm2, and 9630 Tour. As it will be when 9130 Pearl2 and 9650 Tour2 launch next year.

    If you want true GPS for ANY app on a Verizon BlackBerry, your only choice is to upgrade your phone. You will also get many more enhancements that newer devices and newer OS bring. You are dreaming if you think GPS will ever be more widely supported on old 8130, 8330, or 8830. Time marches on, old devices are left in the dust.

    From my BlackBerry Tour…

    Reply
  39. steph says

    March 27, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    I used This site since it has a nearly perfect 4.9/5 rating with google checkout and is accredited with the better business bureau and an “A” Rating with them.
    plus they were recommended highly in the cell phone forums.
    http://www.unlockcellphonecode.com
    I talked to one of their support reps on live chat and within 5 mins i had my unlock code and my phone was unlocked.
    Hope this helps.

    Reply

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