Looking for a GPS phone for use on T-Mobile

[Phillip]

I am looking for a phone (smartphone?) for my wife. I am looking for
something that is windows based with a GPS reciever (So I can you something
like TOMTOM instead of paying a monthly fee for GPS)
Other criteria are: Touchscreen, qwerty keyboard (or qwerty touch screen).
Prefer a flip/slider (not required) fairly small (not like my iPAQ 6945)

Fairly easy to use would be pretty high on the list as well

Thanks for any suggestions... T-mobile just does not have the types of phone
she wants, and we dont want to pay the continuious monthy GPS fee.


Phil

[Ato_Zee]

Post by Phillip
Thanks for any suggestions... T-mobile just does not have the types of
phone
she wants, and we dont want to pay the continuious monthy GPS fee.

Don't think my PAYG T-mobile Nokia 6650 charges for GPS, think
it's like a handheld car one, doesn't need a network connection
for GPS, my PAYG credit doesn't seem to go down.
Not touch screen, web access seems OK, but that is charged
for and capped (subject to fair useage) at £1.00 per day.
Talks, and visually guides you, to your destination, puts
up a chequered flag icon, gives distance to destination,
drops flag when you arrive. Seems to know house numbers
in long streets. Wife used it in car, "At the roundabout take
the third exit" stuff. Camera OK. Only fault ringer
not very loud.
If you want a QWERTY keyboard phone Nokia do them,
mate has a Nokia one, big and not really shirt pocket,
and costs an arm and a leg.

[Tanosh]

Post by Phillip
I am looking for a phone (smartphone?) for my wife. I am looking for
something that is windows based with a GPS reciever (So I can you something
like TOMTOM instead of paying a monthly fee for GPS)
Other criteria are: Touchscreen, qwerty keyboard (or qwerty touch screen).
Prefer a flip/slider (not required) fairly small (not like my iPAQ 6945)
Fairly easy to use would be pretty high on the list as well
Thanks for any suggestions... T-mobile just does not have the types of phone
she wants, and we dont want to pay the continuious monthy GPS fee.
Phil

The only touchscreen Windows phone T-Mobile seems to have at this time
is the Wing. There are some links that might interest you:

Bluetooth GPS:
http://www.thepocketsolution.com/tmobile_wing_accessories.html

The Wing can't receive GPS signals. It must be connected to a GPS
receiver (through Bluetooth) then it will display the resulting map.
http://www.htcwiki.com/thread/1053457/t-mobile+Wing+tweaks%3F+contacts+password+and+gps+question,+thanks?t=anon

[Sven]

You do realize you are not paying for GPS, but rather for the downloading of
maps surrounding where the built in GPS says you are, and the off phone
routing that is done and delivered to the phone over the network. Of course
something like TomTom eliminates the need for paying for the 'Nav service',
because the maps and route processing are on the device, assuming you loaded
the correct ones. Just making sure you know you could get any of the
T-Mobile phone that have GPS in them, and for which TMo offers the Nav plan,
without getting the subscription and most likely still use the GPS. There
are some built in restrictions on some carrier sponsored devices to try to
keep you from using the GPS hardware in their device, with something other
than their service, but I don't think any of them can't be gotten around.

A significant issue in my mind is the price you pay for these things if not
subsidized by a carrier, which of course comes with the contract. You'll be
paying $300-$800 for a decent WM device with GPS, unlocked and carrier
agnostic. (new anyway, ebay/craigs list probably cheaper). As far as easy to
use...that's kind of relative. I certainly don't find WM hard, but the
complexity goes up as you start adding higher end features that would
accompany anything that includes a GPS.

I do have OCN8 in my Tilt, and it is pretty good, but I really spend most of
my GPS use on the phone using Google Maps and Live Search, both requiring a
data plan, but not the AT&T Nav subscription. The GPS in my Epix works just
fine with Google Maps and Live Search as well, again with the data plan.
Even with those options, when I need real Nav help, I will take the Garmin
or HP dedicated car GPS. Easier to use, easier to see, doesn't tie up the
phone, and you can pick a good one up for $150-$200 these days.

Post by Phillip
I am looking for a phone (smartphone?) for my wife. I am looking for
something that is windows based with a GPS reciever (So I can you something
like TOMTOM instead of paying a monthly fee for GPS)
Other criteria are: Touchscreen, qwerty keyboard (or qwerty touch screen).
Prefer a flip/slider (not required) fairly small (not like my iPAQ 6945)
Fairly easy to use would be pretty high on the list as well
Thanks for any suggestions... T-mobile just does not have the types of
phone she wants, and we dont want to pay the continuious monthy GPS fee.
Phil

[r***@pen_fact.com]

On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:46:17 -0800, "Phillip"

Post by Phillip
I am looking for a phone (smartphone?) for my wife. I am looking for
something that is windows based with a GPS reciever (So I can you something

If you're looking for something with a built-in GPS receiver that can
be used with Tom Tom and similar software, that may be tough. As at
least one previous post mentioned, carriers tend to disable the
built-in GPS receivers.

If you'll accept a device that uses a Bluetooth connection to a
separate GPS receiver, the T-Mobile Wing should work (Sven confirmed
in an earlier response). One big advantage to a separate receiver is
that it can be place where reception is better (like tucked under the
windshield) while the handheld is in a place convenient for the
navigator.

If you're willing to use an unsubsidized or unlocked phone, you have
several more options. Any GSM phone with the right phone bands
(checking this is a bit techy for some), Bluetooth, Windows Mobile,
and touch screen should work.

NOTE1: I made the mistake of buying Tom Tom for a non-touch phone. The
application starts up, but is completely unusable.

Post by Phillip
like TOMTOM instead of paying a monthly fee for GPS)

Discussed in earlier responses.

Post by Phillip
Other criteria are: Touchscreen, qwerty keyboard (or qwerty touch screen).
Prefer a flip/slider (not required) fairly small (not like my iPAQ 6945)

The Wing looks pretty close.

You can buy a copy of Tom Tom that includes a Bluetooth receiver.

I have a Pharos GPS receiver that works well. The actual receiver is a
square about the size of a quarter. I originally got it with a copy of
Microsoft Streets & Trips and a USB adapter that lets my plug into a
laptop. It also plugs into a Bluetooth "sled" I bought later. And that
Bluetooth combination works well with several devices I've tried. I
haven't tried a lot of devices, but my sense is that all Bluetooth
implementations found on Windows Mobile (at least WM 5 or newer)
devices _do_ support GPS. I have never had a data plan, and have made
sure I make data calls sparingly. I definitely don't use any data
connection for GPS.

Post by Phillip
Fairly easy to use would be pretty high on the list as well
Thanks for any suggestions... T-mobile just does not have the types of phone
she wants, and we dont want to pay the continuious monthy GPS fee.

Here are some other potentially useful links (but I haven't checked
them recently except to check they still exist):
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/
http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2006/06/07/620387.aspx
http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/
http://www.gpsreview.net/
http://www.gpsreview.net/

Post by Phillip
Phil

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To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).

Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
PenFact, Inc.
20 Park Plaza, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02116
www.penfact.com

[Sven]

Post by r***@pen_fact.com
On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:46:17 -0800, "Phillip"
If you'll accept a device that uses a Bluetooth connection to a
separate GPS receiver, the T-Mobile Wing should work (Sven confirmed
in an earlier response).

Wasn't me. My contribution was that my two ATT branded devices, Tilt and
Epix, both let me access the built in GPS with everything I've thrown at it,
the web based Google/MS search things, OCN8 (Tilt), and some other GPS
utilities. I've also read about most vendor restrictions being mitigatable.
I'd Google that for a particular device/carrier combo though.

Post by r***@pen_fact.com
I haven't tried a lot of devices, but my sense is that all Bluetooth
implementations found on Windows Mobile (at least WM 5 or newer)
devices _do_ support GPS.

I'll confirm that. BT connection for a GPS is done via serial port
emulation, and every PPC/WM device I've come across supports that. Winds up
looking like a comm port to the Nav software. Can be a little tricky to set
up the first time, but is possible.

[Todd Allcock]

Post by r***@pen_fact.com
On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:46:17 -0800, "Phillip"

Post by Phillip
I am looking for a phone (smartphone?) for my wife. I am looking for
something that is windows based with a GPS reciever (So I can you something

If you're looking for something with a built-in GPS receiver that can
be used with Tom Tom and similar software, that may be tough. As at
least one previous post mentioned, carriers tend to disable the
built-in GPS receivers.

While typically true on the CDMA side (more so in the past than today at
least with smartphones), I haven't seen the American GSM carriers pull that
stunt yet. AFAIK, every GPS-enabled phone on AT&T or T-Mobile USA has a GPS
available to the end-user.

Post by r***@pen_fact.com
If you'll accept a device that uses a Bluetooth connection to a
separate GPS receiver, the T-Mobile Wing should work (Sven confirmed
in an earlier response). One big advantage to a separate receiver is
that it can be place where reception is better (like tucked under the
windshield) while the handheld is in a place convenient for the
navigator.

While true, I much prefer an internal GPS- it's a lot more handy, and still
doesn't prevent the use of a better placed BT GPS if needed. I still have
my GPS puck, left over from my T-Mo MDA (the uglier predecessor of the Wing)
and have used it with my GPS-enabled AT&T Tilt occassionally (but mostly for
battery life issues rather than reception issues!)

Post by r***@pen_fact.com
If you're willing to use an unsubsidized or unlocked phone, you have
several more options. Any GSM phone with the right phone bands
(checking this is a bit techy for some), Bluetooth, Windows Mobile,
and touch screen should work.

Agreed. The Wing is an anemic underpowered phone for this day and age.
T-Mobile wanted $250 for it if I agreed to a two-year contract, so I bought
an unlocked AT&T Tilt on eBay for $200, without extending my contract. In
return, in addition to saving $50 and two-years of my life, I have a 400MHz
processor (to the Wing's 200), an internal GPS, and 128MB of RAM to the
Wing's 64MB. Windows Mobile is RAM-hungry, and the 128MB device is much
more stable than my MDA's (or the Wing's) 64MB allows for!

Post by r***@pen_fact.com
NOTE1: I made the mistake of buying Tom Tom for a non-touch phone. The
application starts up, but is completely unusable.

Post by Phillip
like TOMTOM instead of paying a monthly fee for GPS)

Discussed in earlier responses.

Post by Phillip
Other criteria are: Touchscreen, qwerty keyboard (or qwerty touch screen).
Prefer a flip/slider (not required) fairly small (not like my iPAQ 6945)

The Wing looks pretty close.
You can buy a copy of Tom Tom that includes a Bluetooth receiver.
I have a Pharos GPS receiver that works well. The actual receiver is a
square about the size of a quarter. I originally got it with a copy of
Microsoft Streets & Trips and a USB adapter that lets my plug into a
laptop. It also plugs into a Bluetooth "sled" I bought later. And that
Bluetooth combination works well with several devices I've tried. I
haven't tried a lot of devices, but my sense is that all Bluetooth
implementations found on Windows Mobile (at least WM 5 or newer)
devices _do_ support GPS. I have never had a data plan, and have made
sure I make data calls sparingly. I definitely don't use any data
connection for GPS.

Post by Phillip
Fairly easy to use would be pretty high on the list as well
Thanks for any suggestions... T-mobile just does not have the types of phone
she wants, and we dont want to pay the continuious monthy GPS fee.

Here are some other potentially useful links (but I haven't checked
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/
http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2006/06/07/620387.aspx
http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/
http://www.gpsreview.net/
http://www.gpsreview.net/

Post by Phillip
Phil

-----------------------------------------
To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and
please indicate which newsgroup and message).
Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
PenFact, Inc.
20 Park Plaza, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02116
www.penfact.com