Nokia N 95 & GPS Costs

Encantador

I have today purchased the new N95 with built in GPS.

No idea how, but eventually seem to have it working isng Nokia`s smart2go.com website.

I know that I have to pay if I want turn by turn instructions, using the maps and GPS without turn by turn instructions is described as FREE.

I have had to set the phone to access network as required though. What I can`t find out is when this is required and what the cost might be.

If the maps are on the phone and it is using an inbuilt GPS receiver, I can`t see why it needs to access the network, but I may be wrong.

The people in the shop that suppkied the phone didn`t seem to know either.

The sim card I am using at the moment is a Voda contract SIM, but that might change.

Does anyone have any experience of how this works.

Thanks

Couger

Ill check the exact info when im at work tomorrow ill drag out the tech manuals for the handset if need be ill speak to few collegues and ask
Ive got training on tuesday for that handset so ill play around and see what i find

one other question how you manage to get the handset today the handset should not be onsale until monday lol

Cheers Couger

mchu6am4

Encantador wrote: »

I have today purchased the new N95 with built in GPS.

No idea how, but eventually seem to have it working isng Nokia`s smart2go.com website.

I know that I have to pay if I want turn by turn instructions, using the maps and GPS without turn by turn instructions is described as FREE.

I have had to set the phone to access network as required though. What I can`t find out is when this is required and what the cost might be.

If the maps are on the phone and it is using an inbuilt GPS receiver, I can`t see why it needs to access the network, but I may be wrong.

The people in the shop that suppkied the phone didn`t seem to know either.

The sim card I am using at the moment is a Voda contract SIM, but that might change.

Does anyone have any experience of how this works.

Thanks

How much and from where if you don't me asking?

Encantador

Couger wrote: »

Ill check the exact info when im at work tomorrow ill drag out the tech manuals for the handset if need be ill speak to few collegues and ask
Ive got training on tuesday for that handset so ill play around and see what i find

one other question how you manage to get the handset today the handset should not be onsale until monday lol

Cheers Couger

Thanks for that.

It worked for about 3-4 miles from home then I lost the GPS. When I tried to go back in it said `No Internet connection, check network settings`(or similar).

On returning home it it found my home network and was working again.

Tried a few sites and manual but nothing explains what it needs to log on for. If the maps are on the phone and the GPS receiver is built in, what else could/should it need????

If there is any extra expense in using the GPS, which is the main reason I bought it, it will be going soon.

Looking forward to the answer.

Thanks

mchu6am4
Local shop £480 SIm free. they had 10 yesterday.

Encantador

OK.....

In a PDF downloaded from smart2go.com I have found this....

Are there any running costs?

Using the basic application as such is free, but users need to pay for the GPRS/3G connection for getting the map data from the server according to the user`s operator service plan. We recommend a flat rate for frequent users, WiFi can also be used.

I have the default connection set to my home network, the other options are Vodaphone Live
Vodaphone MMS
Easy WLAN
Vodaphone internet GP....

I am assuming to have the GPS working properly on the road, I would need to choose one of these and pay.

Nowhere does it say how often it might need to log on, so how you know the possible cost of using it I have no idea.

redux

It sounds like the GPS is giving you the position, and the software is keeping a data connection online all the time to give you real-time map coverage. In other words, the maps are not stored in the phone.

That could get quite expensive for data use, depending how much it needs to use, and whether it continuously updates a small buffer or just gets a reasonable area that you only need to change if travelling a couple of hundered miles. Judging by it going off so far, I think the former is the case.

I think I'd look for other software to use with the GPS function, but how much map detail you can keep loaded at once will will be limited by memory capacity

Encantador

Thanks for that.

I am totally confused.

The CD with the phone includes something called `Nokia maploader` from here you can choose any maps for most countries in the world and download them to your phone. The England map is 90Mb.

When I try to DL this it says there isn`t enough memory, even though I have an empty 1Gb SD card in the phone.

Assuming I can DL this onto the phone, it is still unclear what difference it may or not make.

Thanks for the input.

In FAQ in the PDF it says.
Q. Is the application really free/
A. Yes, the client software is free. The mobile network provider might charge for data transfer. It is recommended to use a WiFi connection (such as hotspots) or a UMTS flat rate (whatever that might be).

It goes on to say that you can block network access in the settings. It DOES NOT say that if you block access that it won`t work properly.

tillson

If you are going to be using the GPS navigation function frequently, it would probably be more economical to by Tom Tom or something similar and install that on the phone instead.

Encantador

Yes, quite possibly.

Still don`t understand why if the maps need continually updating it suggests you can use WiFi Hotspots. How many of those are there on the M1??

I dare say if you asked your service provider before having the phone on contract they would play down the extra costs involved, or just forget to mention them.

tillson

I guess the mapping is arranged in tiles to cover the UK. When you plan your route, the software will probably download the mapping tiles that are required to cover your proposed journey. If at the time of planning, you are not near a WiFi hotspot then a GPRS data service will be used. If you have no route planned, the software will probably just download each tile as you move from one to another and use whatever connection is available at that time.

A friend of mine had a Seat car that came with "free" Sat Nav. He had to stick a SIM card in the thing and pay for each journey plus the data download cost. It worked on a similar principle to that outlined above.

slinkydonkey

I was thinking about getting this phone to replace my current phone a Nokia 6630, currently it has tomtom mobile 5 on it and I use a separate GPS receiver with it. The maps are pre-installed on the phone and i can even use the phone in offline mode (so don't even need a sim card). So no extra cost is invloved.

I may think again now as tomtom5 would seem to be more suitable, but the 5 meg camera and wifi may make me think again. If I could use tomtom mobile maps on the Nokia N95 now then that would be more affordable.

:rolleyes: