Verizon relents, promises to open GPS on some WinMo phones next year

Okay, so maybe the unlocking of the GPS on Verizon BlackBerrys wasn't an accident after all -- and maybe hell has frozen completely over. WMExperts is reporting an official statement released by the carrier claiming that GPS has remained locked down on many of its models simply because it hasn't met Verizon's "performance goals," which granted, sounds like a crock -- but to Verizon's credit, they're the ones getting the phone calls when things aren't working smoothly, not the phone's manufacturer. Still, when you consider that VZ Navigator runs a pricey $9.99 a month for WinMo devices, the financial motivation was certainly there to keep it locked down, so maybe customer dissatisfaction with the policy has reached a boiling point or Verizon is simply realizing that they're not milking enough money to bother. Specifically, the Touch Pro, Saga, and Omnia have all been mentioned as getting fully unlocked, standalone GPS via firmware updates in the first half of next year.

[Via Brighthand]

[kjb434 @ Dec 16th 2008 5:55PM]

Luckily ATT (and previously Cingular) has always kept there WinMo GPS phones unlocked.

I never used the built in ATT navigation package (they charge you for usaage, WTF). I just downloaded LiveSearch and GoogleMaps and it works wonderfully.

[James @ Dec 16th 2008 5:57PM]

Same with me. Love google maps on my tilt.

[kjb434 @ Dec 16th 2008 5:59PM]

Tilt man over here myself. I'm holding out for the TouchPro in the future.

[James @ Dec 16th 2008 6:58PM]

I was quite tempted by the touch pro but i think ill hold out till windows mobile 7 or try out an android phone till winmo7 is released.

[Quikboy @ Dec 17th 2008 7:01AM]

@kjb434: Which one do you find easier to use on WinMo : Live Search Maps or Google Maps?

[Ryan Beesley @ Dec 17th 2008 1:09PM]

@quikboy, for me it's 6 of one, half a dozen the other. The Live Search speech recognition is pretty amazing. With LS, you also get weather, gas prices, movies, and of course "Search". :-D Google Maps lacks those features but adds Street Map and tower based location finding. Combined, and with the option of adding some offline map caching capability, you'd have the perfect mapping app.

[kjb434 @ Dec 17th 2008 1:27PM]

Google Maps came out first and was quite good.

Then LiveSearch came out screaming with voice control. Once you learn the commands it is very easy to use.

A few months after that Google Maps threw in voice control and street view.

In the end, they are both really good programs. Since they are both free, I suggest trying both. I have found that LiveSearch doesn't have conflicts with GPS on my particular phone. Google Maps needed a little more setup, but once working it was good to use. They both install and uninstall quite cleanly. You can jump back and forth. You definitely want is to store data on a storage card. This will allow the program to run faster and use less data if you drive a lot around the same region and use the navigation features.

What is critical to note is that both use a lot of data. You have to have a an unlimited data plan if you are going to use it for a navigation device or scroll a lot on maps. Just zeroing in on yourself with the GPS aspect doesn't use much though.

[idiot @ Dec 16th 2008 5:57PM]

punks

[Orappa @ Dec 16th 2008 6:00PM]

ja det e rjo totalt irriterende, når de tqage rpenge for ingen ting, vi har jo ligesom købt den fucking telefon

[Nerd Ferguson @ Dec 16th 2008 6:06PM]

English, Mother F*cker, do you speak it?

[nerdtalker @ Dec 16th 2008 6:24PM]

...."den fucking telefon"

I agree. Totally. You might've lost me with all the whatever-the-fuck that you said before, but that last part, man, fucking poetry.

[KilgoreTrout @ Dec 16th 2008 6:48PM]

Don't worry, even for those who can understand danish that post makes no sense whatsoever

[Jonah @ Dec 17th 2008 11:32PM]

...All I could understand out of that entire sentence was "fucking"...
Is fuck pronounced the same in every language?

[Pete @ Dec 17th 2008 1:24PM]

That's not even how you would spell it...

That crap was posted by someone who didn't realize that Babelfish doesn't do perfect translations from english into another language.

[)law( @ Dec 16th 2008 6:08PM]

There a little late to the game on that one. Shame they couldnt see the light earlier on this issue. Now if only they could stop watering down every phone they get with thier big red V in the UI

[Colin Potter @ Dec 16th 2008 7:35PM]

it's all part of the plan.

[TurboFool @ Dec 16th 2008 6:08PM]

Might also have something to do with all the people flashing Sprint-based ROMs to unlock it themselves, and Verizon realizing it was a losing battle.

So glad I'm with Sprint. Verizon gimped their Touch Pro so severely that it's nearly not worth it.

[The Angry Intern @ Dec 16th 2008 6:43PM]

i was one of those. I actually flashed to the official Verizon WinMo 6.1 firmware, then found a tool that unlocked the GPS portion. Works great.

[neodorian @ Dec 16th 2008 7:51PM]

I agree. Google Maps, TomTom, and Live have made my clunky old Mogul quite useful. I kept that phone and avoided a few newer devices for a while because they didn't have the 3G or built-in GPS that it had already. Now those two features are much more common so my next purchase shouldn't depend on those things. All that is left now is for all the big players to get some decent Exchange support and I can choose solely based on hardware and plans.

[Dave @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:23AM]

I have an Omnia and before that an HTC Touch. What specifically did you download to open the Touch up from Sprint? Is that the VX 6800? I like my Omnia...believe it or not..just not the chicken$h*t way that Verizon locks down the GPS chipset. I hope the market is starting to talk to them. I know after crap like this I won't recommend a Verizon phone to ANY of my clients relying on mobile solutions and GPS. With the Google maps available on a Tilt and such already mentioned here, why would anyone waste time with things like a Garmin or some such like that?

[phloam @ Dec 16th 2008 6:09PM]

i believe Verizon's stated reasons for locking down the gps on a select few phones. my (sprint) htc touch's gps is absolutely terrible. it was locked down until wimo 6.1 was released, and for good reason. you practically have to be standing still under a clear open sky to get a lock w/ google maps or live search. it might work better with sprint navigation, but if the performance is even close to how it is now i would be pissed... $10/month is not worth it for that crap.

though, when it does work it is pretty sweet and free.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Dec 16th 2008 6:28PM]

Even though I really dislike Verizon, I understand where they're coming from on having to deal with the hassles of poorly implemented features. My old Samsung dumbphone had GPS + vznav and it was always slow to get a GPS signal and slow to update (to the extent that I usually missed turns while using it).

[nerdtalker @ Dec 16th 2008 6:33PM]

The problem there is that even though the unlocked ROMs enable GPS, they don't enable aGPS.

Sprint's implementation works out-of-box faster because it uses aGPS. My Touch Pro gets a GPS fix, indoors, in at or under 10 seconds.

[MicroF_ckingSoft @ Dec 17th 2008 3:19AM]

My Verizon Touch (HTC Vogue) gets an aGPS lock within 5 seconds outside or in, and Garmin Mobile XT with turn-by-turn directions runs great on it... all thanks to:

http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=VerizonAGPSFix

and

http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=30332

For me, standalone, turn-by-turn GPS on my Touch as well as 3G tethering are the killer apps that keep my iPhone 3G on my desk at work instead of in my pocket.

[Dave @ Dec 21st 2008 10:18PM]

Where do you find the download from Verizon that unlocks the chipset on an Omnia? Is that the same for you?

Thanks!

[Christian Walters @ Dec 16th 2008 6:17PM]

Uhm big deal? Anyone whos anyone just gets a ROM and slaps it on their device to unlock stuff like that anyways.

[Cory @ Dec 16th 2008 6:24PM]

The real reason is because they have a class action lawsuit coming up early next year regarding them locking the GPS.... specifically on the BlackBery 8830. It was filed last year and is just now getting heard. Verizon's probably just trying to cover their asses with their other phones.

If only it were because Verizon loved its customers....

[ace587 @ Dec 16th 2008 6:31PM]

Good, for once Verizon did something right.

[James @ Dec 16th 2008 7:01PM]

Its funny how getting sued can make you change your ways, who would have thought.

[Michael C Taylor @ Dec 16th 2008 6:48PM]

Windows Mobile? That thing is still kicking around? How quaint!

[neodorian @ Dec 16th 2008 7:53PM]

Yeah, it's the ugly one that has thousands of apps and has supported GPS, 3G, Exchange, and full QWERTY since before the 'Berries and Apples offered such luxuries.

[Michael C Taylor @ Dec 16th 2008 8:15PM]

I got voted down... that means people out there still think Windows Mobile is a relevant mobile platform.

How cute!

(2004 called - they want their smartphone back).

[neodorian @ Dec 16th 2008 8:26PM]

Find me another that does all the things I need and I'll consider it. Until then you're obviously trolling. No sane person would care so much about an OS that they find the need to make snide remarks about its users. I pity the individual who defines himself by his choice of personal electronics.

[James @ Dec 16th 2008 8:32PM]

Hi, im a PC.

Now will you take pity on me?

[Joshua Walters @ Dec 16th 2008 7:03PM]

Hopefully this means any Android phones VZW comes out with will also have the GPS unlocked, and available for use with Google Maps (and Street View) for no additional cost.

[Stuart Dambrot @ Dec 16th 2008 7:14PM]

According to Efficasoft, a few phones can be GPS-unlocked using the instructions found here: http://www.efficasoft.com/gpsutilities/index_wm_sp_devices.html.

I haven't tried it yet.

[Nicky-Larson @ Dec 16th 2008 7:26PM]

Please, The Question I am about to ask is for Educational Purpose of my Curiosity. Please Do not Flame me.
To Verizon Customers:
In as much as I know that not everyone is Tech Savy enough to carry out such Tasks as Flashing a ROM, and all. How do you feel when you find out that what you have actually been paying for is Free on other carriers and comes as a full part of your phone?
How do you feel Paying so high a price for Data/ Voice that the other companies ( Sprint/T-Mobile) offer for considerably low.

I know that for some people it has to do with where they are located and coverage. But I mean, I don't know why it should annoy me so much to see a Company Rip people off so badly with such fearless act of impunity. Maybe someone can explain to me.
I want to understand why people would rather have a crippled phone, Pay more for it, pay more for Data/voice ( with a Cap), and yet not complain.

[NKT @ Dec 17th 2008 8:07AM]

Because networks are not cheap to deploy and maintain.

Want coverage? Takes money.
Want reliability? Take money.
Want higher speed? Takes money.
Want more features? Takes money.

Every carrier makes trade offs for those areas. So it's up to the consumer to choose what's important to them.

Why is Sprint hemorrhaging customers if their prices/performance are supposedly so good?

What took T-Mobile so long to deploy 3G?

[w00t w00t Legin! @ Dec 16th 2008 9:10PM]

Simple, it's the network

[rpolunsky @ Dec 16th 2008 9:59PM]

Because Verizon offers what I need in a calling plan - and I don't care about GPS, I don't use data, and I don't want to ever have to take my phone apart to put my own midifications into it. Calling other people's choices "crippled" may make you feel good but it's hardly contributing to a rational discussion.

[FOREX @ Dec 16th 2008 10:54PM]

NKT said it best. It costs money to run a good network and Verizon does get the best coverage in my experience as well as the fastest data speeds.

You get what you pay for, its not a rip off when its reliable.

[Electromodo @ Dec 17th 2008 1:25AM]

Well, I switched to Verizon from AT&T this Black Friday.

On AT&T I had Samsung BlackJack II with unlocked GPS, Google Maps and no contract.

On Verizon I got Samsung Omnia (which I liked over HTC Fuze and iPhone), I also got a 1 year contract option and much better coverage at home and in Metro.

So see, I abandoned unlocked GPS and absence of contract for something else which is more important to me. I guess it's all personal.

Next year my contract with Verizon will be over, and if AT&T/T-Mobile get coverage in Metro and get new phones that I like more than Omnia, then I will switch back.

But again, 1 year contract and better coverage at home is unbeatable.

[FrankM @ Dec 28th 2008 2:14PM]

The charge is annoying, but come on it's ten dollars a month. If you make more than, say, $50k a year this is pocket change. What's the hourly value relative to your income of time wasted getting furious, complaining, and researching work arounds? I finally signed up for VZ Nav on the Omnia but I kick myself for not signing up 2 years ago on my (beloved) Razr. GPS is useful and fun and I would have made up the money many times over on time saved not being lost, and fun value.

If other carriers were otherwise equivalent to VZ, sure I'd switch. But it's pretty well established that they're not.

[Usagimaru @ Dec 16th 2008 7:27PM]

It'll be BS if they don't unlock the GPS on the non-pro Touch (XV6900)
Especially since they're going to be releasing the 6.1 update for it soon...

[ThreeDee912 @ Dec 16th 2008 8:42PM]

Verizon? UNcrippling phones?! Hell has officially frozen over.

[fastharry @ Dec 16th 2008 8:54PM]

with garmins running way under 200, why in Gods name would you subscribe to an inferior service....even if it was free.

[Logik @ Dec 16th 2008 11:47PM]

How can I justify spending ~ $200 on a device that I (may) only use once or twice a month?

I have 5 lines on a shared family plan. After customer loyalty discount, each line costs me about $33 a month (600 mins/ea, unlimited: sms, data, navigation, mms...). I lived in LA for 16 years, but never did any driving there. I just got back from spending the weekend there. I used Sprint Navigation with no trouble at all; it even helped me avoid an accident. I only screwed up once, and that is because it was one of those weird/complicated, jumbled intersections. The program rerouted me before I reached the next intersection.

[Virtuous @ Dec 16th 2008 9:41PM]

Verizon has the best 3G network in the US. That's about all they're good at.

[d889 @ Dec 16th 2008 9:48PM]

meh ive been using the verizon navigation for a while now and honestly it does everything my buddies dash one does, but it does it on my 4 year old razr. use it almost every day at work for deliveries, yeah with the monthly fee i could have bought a real one by now, but honestly who cares my razr does business lookup and all that other garbage gps units do, but i always have this in my pocket.

[Give up the lights @ Dec 16th 2008 11:10PM]

what the roflwaffle