GPS Enabled Cell Phones help you find your way

GPS - Global Positioning System - now found on a cell phone near you. Does that surprise you? Is high tech navigation a feature that you want or need on your cell phone? Would you pay nearly $10.00 per month for a subscription?

Several years ago my husband and I drove cross country on a trip to Boston. I admit to having serious map challenges and so I purchased a GPS system. A small yellow box rode on the dash of the moving van. My laptop with cords attached to its fragile body-one for the box and one for power - rode on the seat between us. Anytime we varied from our pre-determined route the GPS system told us about it. A few times we intentionally re-routed our trip and the GPS system set us on a new and correct course. Other than the cost of the GPS unit itself, there were no other charges to pay. No subscription fee, no usage fee. At the time, that was pretty much my only option.

Late in 2005 any cell phone you purchased was required to be traceable within or less than 100 meters in response to an emergency call to 911 (e911). Wireless carriers chose to integrate this ability into the cell phones instead of revamping their network towers.

Cell phone technology has increased dramatically with many models having integrated GPS systems expanded with the ability to provide you with navigation information. Your cell phone can now receive and calculate signals from multiple satellites through low energy radio signals. By triangulating these signals your location can be pinpointed. Once the GPS knows your location and your desired destination it can display your route.

Features other than GPS are important to you. It is dizzying when you try to compare all of the features on all of the GPS models. There are helpful sites on the internet to help you choose your GPS enabled cell phone. See the links below this hub for help with choosing your preferred features and compare cell phones side by side.

There are so many GPS enabled cell phones available that it is difficult to say which one is the best. Factors have to be considered such as which wireless provider you choose and which phones are approved by that provider. Models that are commonly available will be from HP, LG, Motorola, Palm, BlackBerry (RIM), Samsung, and Sanyo.

Clamshell phones such as the Motorola RAZR V3m are very popular.

They are thin, stylish and sleek with a 2.2 inch 65K TFT screen. Other features include an integrated music player, speaker phone, integrated 1.3 megapixel camera and Bluetooth. These phones are compact and are easily carried. See the link below this hub for further descriptions of this phone.

PDA Smartphones such as the HP IPAQ 6510, 6515, 6920, 6925 Mobile Messenger and the Palm Treo 650 and 700 series are also popular. Windows Mobile® 5.0 operating system makes these phones perform nearly as well as a compact PC. One big advantage that an HP PDA Smartphone has is the 3.0 inch transflective (optimal viewing in low light or bright sunlight) screen. One disadvantage is the overall size of the unit. Measuring 4.65 X 2.8 X 0.71 inches it would be difficult to carry on your belt. See the link below this hub for further descriptions of these phones.

RIM BlackBerry 7100i, 7130e, 7520, 8703e, and 8800 needs no introduction. BlackBerry helps people stay organized and keeps their life running on track. Some television commercials portray their owners being in control of business. BlackBerry cell phones are evolving into phones that are as well known for multimedia capabilities as they are for organizational capabilities. Large corporations often provide their key employees with BlackBerry cell phones due to their ability to connect to networks. See the link below this hub for further descriptions of these phones

For the GPS feature to work on a GPS enabled cell phone it is necessary to sign up for a GPS service at a monthly fee of approximately $9.99. Cell phone carriers such as Alltel, Boost Mobile, Cingular, Nextel, Qwest, SouthernLINC, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon are supported by telenav. Verizon also offers their service called VZ Navigator. A data plan contract purchased through your mobile carrier may also be necessary to use your GPS service.

If you are not sure whether you would use the GPS service enough to make the cost worth while there is another option. Google Maps works through the web browser on your cell phone. Check with your mobile provider about the costs of a data plan that would allow the use of Google Maps.

Helpful Links

telenav

GPS Service for cell phones

Supported wireless providers - Alltel, Boost Mobile, Cingular, Nextel, Qwest, SouthernLINC, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon

GPS enabled phones approved by each wireless provider

VZ Navigator

Verizon's GPS Service for cell phones

Google Maps

Free Navigation through your cell phone internet browser

e911

Definition of e911

GPS

Pick a cell phone - A list of GPS enabled cell phones

Motorola RAZR

PALM TREO

RIM BlackBerry