Speculation is running rampant that Bell plans to interfere with GPS on BlackBerry mobile phone devices in the near future. The rapidy spreading rumour says that in the coming weeks Bell will cause users of free GPS mapping applications (Google maps, or BlackBerry maps, for example) to experience GPS lock times of 2 to 10 minutes, up from the 15 to 20 seconds usually experienced. Users will be able to spend $10/month to regain access to high speed GPS locks by subscribing to Bell’s own GPS service, called GPS Nav.
Assisted GPS, which is the technology used by today’s GPS handsets, can make a GPS fix simple and quick to establish. It works by using the phone’s cellular system to also communicate with the cell towers, adding another level of accuracy to the fix. If Bell were to simply turn of AGPS for non-subscribers, the effect described would be a delay of 2 to 10 minutes. I personally experienced this over the past summer travelling in Europe in countries where I had no data access on my Nokia N78.
Let’s hope the bean counters at Bell are thinking twice. A move like this would more than likely result in the mass of cell phone users interested in navigation simply picking up and moving to Rogers where no such restriction exists.
Alec Saunders is the Vice President of Developer Relations for BlackBerry make Research in Motion. This is his personal blog, with his personal viewpoints. Prior to this Alec was the CEO and co-founder of Calliflower — the easiest way to hold a meeting, online, on a conference call, or on the go. A double-decade veteran of product management and marketing, he spent nine years at Microsoft where he helped launch Windows 95, the first two versions of Internet Explorer, the Universal Plug and Play initiative, the push into home markets, opt-in email marketing and what might well go down in history as the very first direct email list ever.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
It's an unreasonable run for more money. GPS on cellphones will only be of interest to a select few and at $10 per month, they're pricing themselves out of the market. That's a $1-$2 feature (maybe). If I were a Bell customers (I'm not) I may be tempted to use an expletive if a Bell rep even dared sell me that service.
Garmin has a native app for the Blackberry that does not even require a data feed; stores on the maps on the memory chip. $99 per device with a 7 or 15 day trial, I seem to recall.
In any event a handheld is not suitable for ongoing navigation while driving from an ergonomics standpoint. You really want a stand alone GPS such as Garmin or Tom Tom.
And finally, Google Maps shows off the new Blackberry Bold's display really well, especially now that you can access Street View (as of last Wednesday). And the Bold does not work on Bell's network. (Street View is not exclusive to the new G-1 but is not yet available for the iPhone — needs an "Apps" update.)