Google launches GPS killer for mobile phones

Filed under: Internet, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Palm, Google, BlackBerry, Mobile Minute

Google launches GPS killer for mobile phones

by Brad Linder Nov 28th 2007

Google has just added a new feature "My Location" feature to Google Maps for mobile phones. Basically, it works like GPS, but instead of connecting to a satellite, it gathers information from nearby cell towers to determine your location. So your phone doesn't need to be GPS enabled, it just needs to have a data plan in order to plot your position on a map.

Google Maps for Mobile runs on most J2ME-enabled devices, including BlackBerry phones, Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian devices. Although you can run Google Maps on Windows Mobile PDAs that are not cellphones, you won't be able to use the My Location feature, since your device won't know how to connect to cellphone towers.

Oh, and while Google could theoretically use this information to stalk you, if you believe the promotional video above, the company claims that it doesn't keep tabs on your personal information and location.

[via Google Operating System]

Tags: cellphones, google-maps, gps, mobile-phones

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Micah said 4:01PM on 11-28-2007

Unfortunately, My Location (beta) no worky on my SYNC. :-/

Velcrocore said 4:08PM on 11-28-2007

Now we just need Verizon to give me unlimited data for less than $45 a month!

essjay said 4:51PM on 11-28-2007

Just tried it out on my N95 and it works very smoothly. The only advantage the resident nokia maps software seems to have over it is the ability to go "offline" and use only locally stored maps. I easily racked up 1Mb of downloads in a few minutes playing about. My data plan may not like that...

geekIam said 5:10PM on 11-28-2007

Isn't this a violation of Google's very own Terms of Service for their map website! Wow, another violator - their own development team. Every user who does real time lat/long mapping may be violating Google Terms of Service (or whatever they are calling their use agreement). My 2 cents. If not, I'm all ready to violate it, excuse me, not violate it as well for my commercial application.

Robert said 10:25PM on 11-28-2007

Oh no I need a data plan and a phone that can handle Google Maps. Plans are from $5-$50. I also hope my phone and install it. Man I wish I had a phone that could do all that.

Oh wait, I have a Helio Heat. And it's been using this feature and then some. Helio rules other phone cost to much. I pay $65 for unlimited everything. Gmaps, Internet, Porn, IM, Text, and 500 mins in ok. So keep all your phones I'll be ok with my Heat.

Mysterius said 10:30PM on 11-28-2007

Helio Heat *has* Google Maps. And it uses GPS for its location services; Google Map's new feature means that mobile phones *without* GPS can use location-based services, too, at least to some extent. You're missing the point here.

James said 11:12AM on 11-29-2007

Meh, I have T-mo and pay $66/mo (+tax) for 2 lines, 1000 min, MyFave/Five/whatever, 1 line w/ unlimited data, plus (and I cannot stress this enough) I can use any GSM phone I want, ever. Found an HTC Hermes for 120 bucks, unlocked it -- bam, new phone. Good luck getting a non-Helio phone working on your network. Helio isn't bad if you're in high school, but if you need more than one line of service, it's a terrible idea.

Anyway, about this location-aware thing, do I have to go to the Gmaps website and download a fresh installer? I installed about two weeks ago, and when I hit 0, it says "searching for GPS satellites (0)...". Does it not auto-update, then?

Scott said 10:26PM on 11-28-2007

doesn't work in Redmond, WA on my Treo 700wx.

michael said 10:32PM on 11-28-2007

Live Maps has had this integration for quite a while, FYI.

At least as far as I know, on desktop.

But I think that works on mobile versions as well. I don't use mobile phones that much, but hearing that Live Maps (mobile) is better than GMaps mobile, must mean something.

Just a thought.

YouAreHere said 10:38PM on 11-28-2007

My Location (beta) doesn't work on my Treo 650p neither :(

Brandon said 10:38PM on 11-28-2007

Horrible accuracy compared to GPS...not even close...

They should've added a 'Use GPS only' feature, because it just ignores the fact that GPS is even on my Curve...

Must....go back...to...older...version......

Ypoknons said 10:38PM on 11-28-2007

Tell me about how it's a "GPS Killer" when you're in the lost in a park with no coverage. It's not nessasarily new - Phonealarm can be set to change profile depending on cell phone towers, for example.

Also I think there's now a Windows Mobile native Google Maps.

New Mexico said 10:39PM on 11-28-2007

Off about five miles for me and my Blackberry.

dep said 10:45PM on 11-28-2007

I've tried downloading 2.0.0 on my 700p, but I think it's not letting me upgrade... I'm stuck at 1.2.xxx whatever...

fred said 10:59PM on 11-28-2007

Google is becoming ever more useful to everyday life. While the search engine will still have trouble with queries like "where are my keys?" it will (almost) be able to find where you've left your phone.

Keano said 10:58AM on 11-29-2007

This isn't new!
I live in Romania, and here the nation provider Connex, now Vodafone has had this service since 2002 or so..It's called Cell information and works on every phone. It tells you where you are, just like this google thing, but doesn't show it on a map, your location is written below the service provider.

Keano said 10:58AM on 11-29-2007

btw the software doesn't even work on my SE M600i...symbian powered..

Hunt said 4:38PM on 11-29-2007

Same here. Touch screen doesn't work. Can't pan. My Location doesn't work.

Better to use MGMaps although it doesn't use cell towers for location support. Plus it's not as pretty but it's full screen with support for touch screen panning.

pete said 12:38PM on 11-29-2007

i dig it, its not gps and if you think its even comes close you will be disappointed , but its very useful, i got a blackberry i use maps all the time to find everything from rest. to autozones, banks/atms, but like the video said i gotta type in where im at, now with this even though it cant tell you exactly where u are, but you can still find what your looking for faster than ever. kudos,

Samuel said 1:05PM on 11-29-2007

Does it work on the iPhone?

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