[sbraj]

Originally Posted by SLK

Only international roaming, isn't it? I use a lot of GPRS while roaming, never got any billing (i have an unlimited plan)

Some operators like Idea charge national roaming at INR0.1/10Kb, international roaming at INR5/10Kb. Unit is bits, not bytes.

Originally Posted by Ram

1) How does your statement about ownership, relate to 50 bits per second ?

My statement was related to first part of the sentence, not the second part. My mistake, that this was not clear.

Originally Posted by Ram

2) Your statement is not true.

Justification:
While the USA's NAVSTAR GPS is the only fully operational Navigational Satellite System today, many others are partly operational.

1. The USSR had GLONASS (ГЛОНАСС, abbreviation of ГЛОбальная НАвигационная Спутниковая Система).
   It was fully functional in the past, but since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it now only gives partial coverage and partial availability.
   Russia plans to have it fully operational again in 2010 with the help of India, who is participating in the restoration project.
2. The European Union has GALILEO. It will be operational in 2012. Future GPS receivers can combine GPS and GALILEO reception to highly increase accuracy.
3. China is expanding their regional navigation system, called Beidou into a global navigation system called COMPASS.
4. France has a precision navigation system called DORIS.

Well, I repeat, at the moment only US satellites. As you said, hardly few the others are operational. Is the 'party-operational' Russian one available for Indian use? I doubt.

Originally Posted by Ram

ISRO, India is building the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS). It is planned to be completed and implemented by 2012.

My source of information is a space scientist working there - my better half.

[janitha]

Originally Posted by ruchirtnt

correct, same here, i also use it a lot but all comes under the unlimited plan.

Few days back I had subscribed to the BSNL's Rs.199/- unlimited GPRS plan, mainly for use of GPS. Yesterday when I checked the BSNL site, it is seen that there is no unlimited plan starting from 25-01-2010. Now, for starter plans, it seems that first 100MB is free and afterwards it is Rs.1/- per MB.

"Gagan" - India's venture into GPS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_Aid...ted_Navigation

[ruchirtnt]

Originally Posted by janitha

Few days back I had subscribed to the BSNL's Rs.199/- unlimited GPRS plan, mainly for use of GPS. Yesterday when I checked the BSNL site, it is seen that there is no unlimited plan starting from 25-01-2010. Now, for starter plans, it seems that first 100MB is free and afterwards it is Rs.1/- per MB.

"Gagan" - India's venture into GPS.
GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

correct, i also saw the same in airtel site today that the mobile office unlimited plan of 399 has gone, lucky me who had already enrolled for this plan one year before

[dushmish]

I need to buy a Blackberry handset for my office use. I was also planning to buy a GPS to use in my car for navigation within city and on highways. I have found that there are some models of BB that have a GPS in them.

My questions to gurus is that:
1. How good is the GPS in BB?
2. Is it good enough to replace the GPS unit separately?
3. How good is the availability of Maps for BB?
4. Any other considerations should I have before buying the handset / GPS unit.
5. I am contemplating buying a basic BB for around Rs 15,000 and buy a GPS separately.
6. How much does a GPS unit cost? Garmin is the most heard (read) name on TBHP.
7. How much do the maps cost?
8. Is there any subscription that one needs on a monthly/annual basis for using GPS? or is it free?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Ciao,
D

[sgiitk]

Sorry for being a bit Off topic.

How do you activate 3G on BSNL postpaid.

The SIM has been upgraded with a 3G SIM.I have got a Nokia 5230, and cannot get 3G services. I have got the settings from BSNL (through sms) and installed them. Also, sent the DEMAND 3G sms day before yesterday. Please advise? We had tested it out with a prepaid SIM of a colleague and the set works fine.

I am esp. interested in using the GPS part when travelling.

[dushmish]

Help People! Refer to my post above. Please!

[sharathjeppu]

I have a BlackBerry Bold and here are my 2 cents on your requirements.

1. The GPS is ok on the BlackBerry. The GPS on my Wife's Nokia N82 is much faster.

2. Is it good enough to replace a separate GPS (I am assuming that you are mean GPS navigation)? No, it is not. The best software that you can get on the BlackBerry is Google Maps for Navigation. I have tried Amaze but it didn't quite work on my Bold. Unlike the Nokia Maps which provided actual Navigation with turn by turn directions.

3. Amaze is Free. Nokia Maps is free on certain Nokia handset models. On other Nokia Models, maps are free and navigation is a subscription (1 day to 1 year options)

4. I am not an expert on the other dedicated GPS units. Perhaps somebody else would chip in here.

Originally Posted by dushmish

I need to buy a Blackberry handset for my office use. I was also planning to buy a GPS to use in my car for navigation within city and on highways. I have found that there are some models of BB that have a GPS in them.

My questions to gurus is that:
1. How good is the GPS in BB?
2. Is it good enough to replace the GPS unit separately?
3. How good is the availability of Maps for BB?
4. Any other considerations should I have before buying the handset / GPS unit.
5. I am contemplating buying a basic BB for around Rs 15,000 and buy a GPS separately.
6. How much does a GPS unit cost? Garmin is the most heard (read) name on TBHP.
7. How much do the maps cost?
8. Is there any subscription that one needs on a monthly/annual basis for using GPS? or is it free?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Ciao,
D

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by dushmish

3. How good is the availability of Maps for BB?

BB can run Garmin maps.

So, almost any maps (navteq / mapmyinida / satguide) can be used on BB.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by sharathjeppu

3. Amaze is Free. Nokia Maps is free on certain Nokia handset models. On other Nokia Models, maps are free and navigation is a subscription (1 day to 1 year options)

Free Navigation for Nokia phones has been announced, as well as the already-free maps. As yet only available for a few models.

[phamilyman]

see, whichever phone you buy - buy it for the phone. GPS should ideally be BT to avoid draining battery (unless u're on an unltd plan and the AGPS wont hurt).

and BB runs garmin just well - garmin works across the nation IMNSHO - that's all you need!

[NetfreakBombay]

APGS consumes so little data that it does not matter from cost point of view.

For a 6 Hour journey, AGPS would not be used for more then 5 - 10 minutes. And yes phone needs to be plugged into car charger otherwise it would drain battery in no time. My Nokia 5230 lasts only couple of hours with GPS.

[Ram]

A four year old British company called BlueSky Positioning Ltd. has come up with the world’s first Assisted-GPS module embedded in a SIM card.

Together with GSM phones, it forms a complete network-assisted GPS receiver capable of locating the handset's latitude and longitude position, quickly and accurately.

Their SIM card complies with GSM and 3G standards and thus works with legacy GSM and 3G mobile handsets without the need for modifications or additional software. The SIM card has a proprietary In-SIM GPS antenna.

This technology will let network operators bill their customer for GPS services -- something they've always wished for. At the same time they can build critical mass for location-based service applications, creating services to squeeze more money out of the consumer.

US E-911 and the forthcoming European E-112 legislation requires network operators to be able to precisely locate every one of their phones in a national emergency.

Using network information (Cell-ID) to estimate the position of a handset is accurate only to 100-300 meters in cities and from 300 meters to a few kilometres in rural areas. Woefully inadequate!

This technology will help cellular network operators surmount the problem of every current cellular phone not having a built-in GPS receiver.

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by dushmish

Help People! Refer to my post above. Please!

You have received more informative responses.

My experience with BB is restricted to a 8310. Whenever I have tried the GPS, it connects in a flash outside the house. Unfortunately that is the only phone that I have access to with an inbuilt GPS.

Google maps, even with the text based navigation is quite good as I found out in an area which was not covered by the MMI map. Of course, it would be better if you have unlimited data connection if Google maps have to be used.

Bluetooth and GPS drain the battery of a phone and an in car charger is imperative. Even a navigator device won't last long on battery and would have to be charged continuously.

[janitha]

Originally Posted by trrk

Hi,



You have received more informative responses.

My experience with BB is restricted to a 8310. Whenever I have tried the GPS, it connects in a flash outside the house. Unfortunately that is the only phone that I have access to with an inbuilt GPS.

Google maps, even with the text based navigation is quite good as I found out in an area which was not covered by the MMI map. Of course, it would be better if you have unlimited data connection if Google maps have to be used.

Bluetooth and GPS drain the battery of a phone and an in car charger is imperative. Even a navigator device won't last long on battery and would have to be charged continuously.

Google maps conducted a workshop today at Trivandrum for betterment of the maps by adding details. Such workshops are planned for all other Districts shortly. But the Government has banned survey and all other Department officials from participating in it, for security reasons and it seems to have become a controversy.

[itwasntme]

I use my Nokia 5800 with the new free Ovi Maps and it works like a charm in Bangalore and also in Kolkata city limits. Excellent turn-by-turn directions and reasonably quick route recalculations. But it DOES get addled if I dive into my usual shortcuts. Probably have to save a few route points along the shorcuts for it to 'learn' them.

Overall, extremely satisfied and have effectively saved 11k as I was on the verge of buying a standalone GPS device.