GPS On Mobiles

Apreciar

OK I am totally ignorant with regard to mobile technology. If I were to purchase a new all singing dancing phone with GPS and was using the phone on PAYG through Asda. What would using the GPS function cost.

rev_henry

Do you mean you want to use the GPS for Sat Nav? Well, it depends. Some phones (nokias with Nokia Maps springs to mind) won't cost you anything because the maps are preloaded into the phone or the memory card. Other phones and sat nav apps will download the maps data as and when, via 3G. If you don't have an inclusive data plan this is likely to cost you quite a lot.

robt_2

OP, you are mixing up GPS with programs that use GPS such as satnav. GPS itself is free to use.

What is it you want to do? Use the GPS function for satnav?

Apreciar

rev_henry wrote: »

Do you mean you want to use the GPS for Sat Nav? Well, it depends. Some phones (nokias with Nokia Maps springs to mind) won't cost you anything because the maps are preloaded into the phone or the memory card. Other phones and sat nav apps will download the maps data as and when, via 3G. If you don't have an inclusive data plan this is likely to cost you quite a lot.

So - Just to look at your position would not cost but to use as a sat-nav would, is that correct. I was thinking of purchasing an android phone, so what is quite a lot to use. Sorry I did say I was ingnorent on such matters. If it's any help Asda say their tarrif is 20p per mb.

markdavey

Ok, Android phones come with Google Navigation application FREE (with Andriod 1.6 or above I believe). This streams the map data as you drive over your data connection (which will cost unless you have an inclusive allowance and even then will eat away at your inclusive Mb).

There are, however, SatNav programs that can be purchased from the Google Market place that store the maps on the SD card. I use NDrive on my Desire which currently costs £19.99 for the Whole of Western Europe from the Market Place. I incur no data charges for standard navigation as all the maps are stored on the SD card (around 2GB of SD storage required for W.Europe). NDrive has been around for a while in Europe and I have no issues with how it works on my Desire at all. It is not as all singing and dancing as TomTom but then who really uses all those functions anyway. It gets me from A to B using largely the same routes that my older TomTom device used to calculate.

I have no idea on the data usage for Google Navigation as I didn't even bother with it, but I was not comfortable with a SatNav eating away at my data allowance as I drove (you also really need a constant data signal to ensure that Google Nav doesn't 'lose' you).

nickmack

Apreciar wrote: »

So - Just to look at your position would not cost but to use as a sat-nav would, is that correct. I was thinking of purchasing an android phone, so what is quite a lot to use. Sorry I did say I was ingnorent on such matters. If it's any help Asda say their tarrif is 20p per mb.

If you are considering an Android phone, you really should look at getting an inclusive data package. GPS aside, there are many applications and services which constantly send/receive data. At 20p/Mb, you could easily rack up a monthly bill of £100+. Although sync can be turned off, IMO, your device won't be 'all singing dancing', it will crippled.

[Deleted User]

Nokia phones that have GPS usually come with pre-loaded maps - these are free to use and don't eat up data

Apreciar

So, the impression I am getting is that it is not feasable to use PAYG for these type of phones. I make very few calls or texts in month and to be perfectly honest it would just be "toys for boys". I thought mapping and contacts occasional internet and emails.

JJ_Egan

So, the impression I am getting is that it is not feasable to use PAYG for these type of phones. I make very few calls or texts in month and to be perfectly honest it would just be "toys for boys". I thought mapping and contacts occasional internet and emails.

I use PAYG and have five mapping tools on the phone plus COPilot GPS navigation with UK maps on the phone .

Mapping tools , internet etc are usually by WiFi .
leaving a Smartphone with internet on all the time is rather stupid unless you need all this data when you are asleep .Or need the weather to update every five minuets .
No WiFi then i use my PAYG mobile data charged by Virgin PAYG at .30p a day max of 25MB .
Phone calls about five a year texts likewise , its my slave i am not its slave .
Before leaving home i usually update news traffic etc from home router .
PAYG bill in October is so far about £1-50 99% for internet charges .

jje

Apreciar

JJ_Egan wrote: »

So, the impression I am getting is that it is not feasable to use PAYG for these type of phones. I make very few calls or texts in month and to be perfectly honest it would just be "toys for boys". I thought mapping and contacts occasional internet and emails.

I use PAYG and have five mapping tools on the phone plus COPilot GPS navigation with UK maps on the phone .

Mapping tools , internet etc are usually by WiFi .
leaving a Smartphone with internet on all the time is rather stupid unless you need all this data when you are asleep .Or need the weather to update every five minuets .
No WiFi then i use my PAYG mobile data charged by Virgin PAYG at .30p a day max of 25MB .
Phone calls about five a year texts likewise , its my slave i am not its slave .
Before leaving home i usually update news traffic etc from home router .
PAYG bill in October is so far about £1-50 99% for internet charges .

jje

What phone are you using

rev_henry

Not really no, unless you do as JJ does. I believe Virgin does a payg data bolt on for £5 a month whic may work well for you.