More high-end phones, particularly smartphones, are coming with built-in GPS capabilities that coalesce with powerful applications to provide unparalleled utility. Case in point, the Google blog mentioned today that the GPS-enabled Cingular/AT&T BlackBerry 8800 supports advanced features of Google Maps for mobile.
This means that you can see your location live in Google Maps for mobile, something that used to be reserved for people with PDAs upgraded with some unsightly GPS antenna. So does this mean that driving around with a BlackBerry attached to your dashboard will become commonplace?
Note: This BlackBerry 8800 isn’t running Google Maps for mobile.
This ability just kicked up the cool factor of the 8800 for me and all GPS-enabled phones for that matter. So what’s next? Will we see the ability to text message someone and if we want, have them see our coordinates on a map? Maybe next generation mobile calendar applications will take GPS into account when you are planning a dinner outing with friends and suggest the closest restaurant for everyone. Update: Google released Google Calendar for mobile phones today 5/25.
Or what about a dating service that messages you if someone registered on the service that matches your type is nearby and it can allow you to message that person (for privacy purposes, neither person would know the other’s exact location unless they agree to meetup). Regardless, you will want to watch this space in the coming years.
How many of you own a BlackBerry? I have been with a small, cheap I-can-throw-it-around-and-I-don’t-care, yet bad-picture-taking Pantech C300 since my bad, nightmare-inducing Motorola Q experience. I have incessantly envied the features of BlackBerries and came close to wanting the upcoming BlackBerry Curve, but I always come back to basic, light-in-the-pocket phones. So that means I don’t plan on purchasing an Apple iPhone.
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I don’t have one now, but my next phone will probably be a Blackberry or similar smartphone. The main reason being that I often find myself needing easy access to the web, and using the traditional keypad of my SYNC just doesn’t cut it for quick online browsing.
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I did the pearl thing after having a very basic phone up until then. I’m now on a Treo 680 and absolutely love it because I can rely on it for a high quality calendar, email, and web browser. If you can wait for the iphone, do it. :) Once you go blackberry/palm, you can’t go back.
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I owned the 8800 for two weeks- LOVED the OS, the keyboard was unbearable though. Picked up a BlackJack instead, LOVE the device (keyboard included), but CAN’T STAND Windows Mobile. Windows Mobile makes me want to huck puppies at kittens. It’s just too painfully slow. As soon as RIM starts churning out 3G devices, I don’t care if the keyboard requires me to surgically alter my thumbs, I’ll be a BlackBerry man all the way. In the meantime, anyone have any kittens or puppies I can borrow?
I wonder if there is ever going to be any good CDMA phones with this type of functionality. I’m moving from a GSM carrier to Verizon because everyone I know uses Verizon and free minutes is just too good to pass up. But the phone selection seems to suck. I’m on a Nokia 8800 now but really wanting to move forward to a Palm/Blackberry type device, but it seems I’m either stuck between the Treo or a very uncool Blackberry. It puzzles me that if RIM already makes awesome phones for GSM they couldn’t just make the same models for CDMA. :(
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I’ll get an actual GPS unit when the prices free-fall. As for phones, I’m keeping my free Samsung VI-660 that does everything I could ever imagine wanting a phone to do, and more. For music, maybe someday I’ll get an iPod. For a camera, I’ll take my Fuji F30, thank you. Texting works well enough for me, no need for a Blackberry-like device. And most of the time, I have my phone’s ringer off and I forget I’m even carrying it with me. Ignorance is bliss.
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My friend just bought a Nokia N95, close to a grand, but apparently it’s built in GPS system is pretty glitchy, and the availability of maps is rather limited (at least for Calgary).
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I love my 8703 Blackberry and can’t wait to pick up a 8803 in the next few months. :D
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The 8800 also ships with an application called Blackberry Maps that provides turn-by-turn navigation. Not sure if GoogleMaps can do that.
As for the CMDA version that Joshua inquired about, the Blackberry 8830 is a CMDA version that is about to be released. Verizon gets it in a few days (if they don’t already have it) and Sprint gets it in June. One cool thing about the 8830 is that it has GSM for overseas travel.
I am pretty sure I am going to be trading in my Palm 700p for an 8830 pretty soon. The GPS is a big feature for me since I travel almost every week for work.
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I use the built-in GPS and Blackberry maps on my 8703. It works pretty good. I had to install Blackberry maps manually.
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Jackson,
I was doing some research around last night and read about the 8830. Looks like a cool phone… except… I guess Verizon disables all GPS functions on their phones so you can’t use any type of GPS with Verizon. As well, it doesn’t have a camera!?!. Almost there though. I think the Treo700p is going to be as close as it gets for me for a great smartphone.
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when i first used a blackberry i was surprised how it didnt’ stack up to my old nokia aside from the “email machine” factor. It is options like this, that make it a competitive item in the marketplace.
http://ThunkDifferent.com
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I think the future is GPS – there are a number of kool web 2.0 spin offs i have come up with off the back of mobile GPS. If you ever want to go into business Paul give me a shout :)
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Rocking the Blackberry Pearl since my ancient Treo 600 just wasn’t cutting it and t-mobile refused to carry any of the new treos.
Gotta say I love the push services, and the more business oriented approach to security that comes from RIM. When the iphone was announced, I declared that I had to have one. Now that reality has caught up, I remember my experiences with the Rev. A macbook, and just how much I despise EDGE.
I chose the 8100 because I was tired of hefting a brick around in my pocket, and got a somewhat decent camera with the small form factor. That said, I really miss the full qwerty keyboard. The 8800 may be my next upgrade.
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I have a blackberry, 7290 (kinda old, still works) that I got through work. Aside from the fact that my boss(es) can reach me no matter where I am and when, I really love the ability to check my email, look up directions, do almost anything on the fly. When mixed with BES, it’s AMAZING for a company. I get meeting requests, emails, IMs, and calls all on the same device. And more.
When do i see a version for the N95 coming out ??
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“So what’s next? Will we see the ability to text message someone and if we want, have them see our coordinates on a map?”
That already works with BlackBerry Messenger on the BlackBerry 8800.
Hi everyone.
A few days ago, I was surfing the web and I found out a project that works over most mobile phones which lets you know where your friends are in real time and update your status in twitter. It´s called Dimdix.
On their website they say you don´t need a GPS system to detect your location. Does anyone know how this works?
I´m using a Motorola L7 and amazingly it detected my location.
I cannot stop thinking of all the things I could do with it.
If anyone wants to take a look you can go here
Thanks,
Regards,