New firmware unlocks GPS on Verizon-branded Pearls and Curves, carrier's intentions unclear

If you've been itching to get your GPS on but weren't feelin' the $9.99 monthly charge for VZ Navigator, today is a good day. Verizon 8330 Curve and 8130 Pearl devices have finally been (somewhat) decrippled, as users over at HowardForums are reporting that the GPS in the aforementioned devices started working once they applied the 4.5.0.97 update. As this is an unreleased firmware version, we're unsure if this was an intentional measure, or simply an epic mistake. But one thing we're sure about is that if Verizon does shut this down in the next firmware update, the backlash will surely be enough to whip up one heck of a Storm. Unfortunately at this point, it's only working in BlackBerry Maps, while Google Maps is left out of the party; but hey, we'll take whatever we can get.

[Image via Boy Genius Report, thanks Nate]

[Waveblade @ Dec 5th 2008 12:37AM]

So it works on default without paying 9.99 but Verizon crippled it?

A tad confused

[jammy @ Dec 7th 2008 1:50PM]

Blackberry added the GPS chip and functionality. Then Verizon crippled it for every application except VZ Navigator which has a monthly subscription. No GPS worked by default (except the curve with any other cell provider).

[James @ Dec 5th 2008 12:38AM]

OMG verizon actually doing something good for their customers i must be dreaming.

[John H. @ Dec 5th 2008 12:42AM]

Or you could just buy an actual GPS unit. $9.99 a month...that's $119.88 a year.

[d889 @ Dec 5th 2008 12:46AM]

lol i use verizon navigator on my 3 year old razr almost every day at work for turn by turn and maps and it works FLAWLESSLY, NO complaints at all and the phone is garbage how the hell can you complain about it?

[Casper42 @ Dec 5th 2008 2:50AM]

Because Verizon charges you for something that should be FREE.

They are infamous for screwing their customers like this.
They would cripple the Synch features on all their Motorolas back in the day.
I had to unlock my V710 and my wife's E815 using a total hack JUST TO UPLOAD MY OWN RINGTONES.

Verizon sucks and they nickel and dime their customers to death.

[Prey521 @ Dec 5th 2008 9:33AM]

I use VZNav FOR FREE with my Bluetooth GPS puck and it works great. Paid for itself in 4 months.

[jkswiss @ Dec 5th 2008 2:43PM]

Prey, you sure that method still works? I updated to the most recent VZNavigator and it no longer recognizes my bluetooth gps dongle. If you haven't updated the Navigator yet then don't.

[Prey521 @ Dec 8th 2008 2:09PM]

D889,

I have the most recent version of VZNAV and it still works for me.

[Jonathan @ Dec 5th 2008 12:46AM]

Any idea if this opens up Alltel pearls?

[ridestp @ Dec 5th 2008 12:59AM]

Is this something that they could remotely disable in the case that they did it on accident?

[Zach @ Dec 5th 2008 1:23AM]

That's what they did before. It's a service book, I believe.

[digitallysick @ Dec 5th 2008 1:00AM]

Verizon not crippling a phone??? it must be some sort of mistake

[Madmax @ Dec 5th 2008 1:26AM]

great.

interesting blog post about The Benefits Of Having a GPS Vehicle Tracking System -

http://www.techreviews4u.com/?p=2321

[allenvanhellen @ Dec 5th 2008 1:32AM]

Wait, Verizon charges $9.99/month to half-uncripple your phone?

Who the hell uses Verizon?

[Michael Scrip @ Dec 5th 2008 2:35AM]

Apparently 70.8 million people use Verizon. And they just absorbed Alltel, for a grand total of 85.2 million subscribers.

[Matt @ Dec 5th 2008 8:20AM]

I'll take a phone with crippled GPS if it means I don't have to deal with dropped calls. I have a TomTom anyway.

[daaper @ Dec 5th 2008 10:59AM]

Matt @ Dec 5th 2008 8:20AM
"
"I'll take a phone with crippled GPS if it means I don't have to deal with dropped calls. I have a TomTom anyway."

Amen to that! This is a phone we're talking about, right? I prefer using my phone for phone calls and my GPS for directions. Verizon really does have the best network. My bill never changes and my calls are rarely (if ever) dropped, so I just put up with this (mostly insignificant) crap they pull.

[allenvanhellen @ Dec 5th 2008 11:34AM]

Oh! I didn't mean that literally! Here's what I meant:

I feel really bad for any of the 70.8/85.2 million subscribers who pay Verizon an extra $9.99/month to partially gain back functionality of their handsets.

As a former AT&T (pre-Cingular) and T-Mobile customer who has had many friends on Sprint and has never experienced more than 1-2 dropped calls in a month, I cannot understand how a carrier as petty as Verizon can have so many subscribers. Verizon: innovate if you need to make more money, don't just cripple handsets and then charge for the crutches.

[roach @ Dec 5th 2008 1:46AM]

My HTC diamond works! My provider also wanted to charge me 10 bucks a month to download a software to use their GPS. I just loaded google and it worked. You don't get assisted GPS via towers, but it still works. I also downloaded Navizon which uses wifi and GPS and it works indoors.

[Unknown @ Dec 5th 2008 2:04AM]

Hope verizon does the same for the Omnia and its crippled GPS. this one is hard to 'liberate' No hacks yet.

[Electromodo @ Dec 5th 2008 2:52AM]

Exactly my thoughts! I just got Omnia and was very disappointed to see that Google maps do not work. Well, at least Verizon didn't cripple WiFi like AT&T used to do... Thank you, Verizon!

[Ethan @ Dec 5th 2008 11:00AM]

I'd love to see a general-purpose hack for all the Windows Mobile-based devices. My Saga is begging me to use its GPS!

[Nicky-Larson @ Dec 5th 2008 2:15AM]

Added to their Expensive Monthly Rates, they also Cripple Phones all the time. That is why I always say TO HELL WITH VERIZON. I mean, why would anyone even settle for less? Don't you have the right to ask for the full potential of your phone? There are many free Voice Navigation GPS softares out there that could be used for these phones. But Verizon will just cripple them so that you get to shed 9.99 a month. Talk of the Devil. People wake up , and start asking for what you deserve.

[arkweld @ Dec 5th 2008 2:48AM]

no monthly fee here on a premium plan and it's not as if you have to pay a monthly fee for casual use anyway. If you need it for 24 hrs you can download the GPS navsoft for 2.99.

Considering the crap people will buy on Xbox Live for more than $3, that's a fair price for a useful feature just when you need it.

[Nathaniel @ Dec 5th 2008 3:09AM]

I have firmware 4.5.0.77 and the GPS function on my Blackberry Maps works.

[Hey Ya @ Dec 5th 2008 9:20AM]

Same here. I don't know where they got the part about .97. It's not a requirement. The GPS works with Verizon's most current, released, OS.

[Rob @ Dec 5th 2008 9:05AM]

The folks over at HF have a good rep for picking up "unofficial" releases. They've saved me a ton of money on my Verizon phones. I'm sure Verizon is going to do all they can to try to lock this one down, but another thing HF users usually figure out...how to avoid automatic updates from the carriers. ;o)

Yes, Verizon does try to extract every penny they can from their users, one cent at a time...but I have never had better coverage and service from a cell company.

[jammy @ Dec 7th 2008 1:53PM]

I just tried the update. And GPS is working for BB maps now. I couldn't get it to work with Google Maps. So it appears to be just slightly less crippled.

[Cypher @ Dec 11th 2008 12:10AM]

I uploaded new firm ware and had GPS working on my 8130 for 5 min. I did a *22899 update and it gave me the message "GPS disabled" Looks like Verizon found the loop hole and closed it. Those dirty dogs.