Cheap but reliable mobile phone with GPS

psarinuk

Hi there

My Sat Nav has been stolen recently, so I am looking to buy a mobile phone with 'built in' GPS receiver so I can use it as a free SAT NAV too.

I've used an O2 XDA2 before, so I am confortable with PDA style phones. I've drawn the following list of phones that I think fit the bill:

HTC Artemis, HTC M700, XDA ORBIT, XDA ORBIT 2, HTC TYTN II, MDA VARIO-3. These are ranging from £40 to £100 on fleebay.

I've left out Nokia N95, E71 as they have smaller screens & are a bit more expensive.

Could you please help me with feedback on the phones above? Good Sat Nav capability (FREE once you have the maps loaded) and general use, price are my key factors. I think all of them are wi-fi enabled.

If you'd like to suggest another phone that's not on the list above or would not advise to go for any of the phones listed above, please feel free to comment.

Many thanks for your replies in advance..

DUTR

T mobile pulse, nokia 5800

xavtia

Just one thing to make sure is if they run on mobile internet then you need internet access via your mobile phone signal and so the 3g signal needs to be good and free as the maps take up a lot of data loading. I had a Nokia N95 and even though it had a gps built in when I looked into Nokia wanted paying for prolonged use of the phone and the maps had to be constantly downloaded via the mobile internet. I never used it as a result of the charges aren't always clear.

psarinuk

xavtia

Yes I am aware of that. If your phone has the inbuilt GPS receiver (N95 has, iphone doesn't?), then all you need to do is download the maps from garmin, copilot etc and then your phone works like any other sat nav. Since you don't have to download the maps anymore, you don't pay for anything.
Hope this helps.

psarinuk

DUTR, Thanks for the 2 phones you mentioned. Are these more reliable than the ones I mentioned in my list? They are a bit more pricey, that's all.

DUTR

psarinuk wrote: »

DUTR, Thanks for the 2 phones you mentioned. Are these more reliable than the ones I mentioned in my list? They are a bit more pricey, that's all.

They are but future proof with good support and decent spec, the satnav options for both are free too :j

psarinuk

DUTR, thanks. Looking at ebay, none of the sellers are advertising the sat nav options (which they should should if its free) on 5800. Checking the spec on google, it does have gps receiver. Is it standard on all phones?

Do I've to buy an SD card afterwards and get the sat nav SW/ maps to load to 5800?

redux

you might also consider having a separate Bluetooth GPS for £15 or so, which expands your choice of phones

I have a Nokia one and can use the same chargers as my phone

fiish

If you want something really cheap to use as a sat nav, might I suggest the Nokia 5230? It is even cheaper than the 5800 (less than £100 on PAYG) and comes with GPS and Ovi Maps with free navigation. You can load the maps on to the phone from your PC and avoid the bulk of data charges that way, and the navigation works!

psarinuk

redux

I am only considering phones with built in gps receiver. thanks.

parallax_20

I had an email come through today from Expansys and they currently have a load of B-Stock smartphones going cheap. Well worth a look if you're after the older style PDA/Smartphones.

Expansys Smartphones Sale

They are of varying conditions though.

The alternative is to spend the same money on a dedicated Sat Nav from somewhere like Ebuyer for about £50 and load your own software on it if necessary.