Using Blackberry Curve 8310 GPS with Google Maps

Really good and really interesting post. I expect (and other readers maybe :)) new useful posts from you!
Good luck and successes in blogging!

The phone wont run google maps for some reason.Any ideas?

Do you have the Enterprise Sever edition? I tried to download the .alx version…the only Blackberry option other than Windows & Palm and it would not load. I’m not sure if you did some else. Any help would be greatly appreciated since you are THE only one that seems to have this working!

Thanks in advance,

Joe

I got this to work with the latest version of Google Maps.

Thanks for this Outstanding infomation!!

Joe

Hi. I just got the Blackberry 8310 and I would like to download the googlemaps app. I notice in your article above that you suggest we don’t download the suite for this app.

You say you have version 1.6.4. The version that is listed on their site is 2.0 something. How do I know it this is the suite? I’m not sure if I want to chance downloading it and then having trouble with my phone. I’m not very savy when it comes to messing with downloads and removing stuff.

I hope you are able to help.

Thanks

Hi I was looking at getting the blackberry although without the blackberry plan and just using mediamax plan for $19.99 I heard there is a medianet browser, I and many others do not need blackberry email features, would I be able to use the media net browser to download at google.com/gmm?

Thanks..I like to try and avoid giving ATT as much money as possible and I’m sure others who come across this post would like to know as well. Great info you should consider text linking to the curve 8310 through Amazon affiliate program I’m think they pay some pretty nice commissions

Thanks alot for the help Mathias,i will definitly be back for more tips.

Great post, thanks!

Have you tried using blackberry maps? I downloaded on my Curve 8310 on the AT&T network and it worked great for a few minutes, but now I cant get my GPS to find any satellites no matter what program I use, even in the advanced options refresh I don’t find anything, Tried outside in various places. Any thoughts?

After chatting with AT&T service reps they had me power down the Curve 8310, take out the battery for a minute, then put the battery back in. After I did that the GPS started working again, both with Google Maps and Blackberry Maps. Blackberry maps is not as detailed as google maps, but it has the other features of showing you your speed and changing the orientation of the map according to your direction, which is nice if you are driving.

Hi, Matthias -

Love your site. Question re step #1 above: how can I “make sure GPS is working” if I have to subscribe to Telenav to get started? I bought the AT&T Curve 8310 today, and the only GPS icon I can find is the Telenav one (in Applications), which won’t let me get into maps until I’ve elected to sign up with them (even if only for a 30-day free trial, which I’m sure they’ll charge me at the end of). Can you please clarify how I’m supposed to start this process without signing up with Telenav? By skipping it, and just going straight into Advanced Options/GPS, I don’t get to see a “Refresh GPS” option. Thanks!!

Oh my god, it worked! Matthias, you are awesome. I migrated from an 8700c (7230 before that), so it takes a little getting used to things like the trackball and the context menu button. Clear as day now, and I have Google Maps, thank to you! Appreciate the community service. (-:

Annie

Matthias,
I don’t think that your method described above is truly using the Curve’s on-board GPS system as you (and I) are intending… As you may or may not know, recent versions of google maps can approximate your location based on information from cell towers alone without a dedicated GPS system (I think they call it AGPS). I just upgraded from a Pearl to the Curve. The Pearl has no GPS, but my version of google maps that I had was able to pinpoint my location using this AGPS technique to various levels of accuracy (3-1600 meters).

Now on the 8310… even though there is a permissions setting for google maps to allow GPS usage, I don’t think the Curve is reporting this info –so the program is simply reporting your location based on this less accurate AGPS method. To this end I tried the following: in google maps permissions I DENY the location (GPS) permission and reboot the phone. Once it’s back up and running I check the GPS status (Options – Advance – GPS), I was indoors but was connected to 7 satellites and had an accuracy of 4.5 meters. Then I launch google maps and press 0 for my location. It found me, but only had an accuracy of 1600 meters. I then exited maps, went into permissions, and switched location (GPS) to ALLOW. Then restart the phone and try again. When it loaded, google maps again had my location only to within 1600 meters.

From what I understand AT&T (in my case, but could be any cell provider) restricts the GPS device to work exclusively with the programs that they want –in my case TeleNav, which costs you $10 extra per month. I’ve been searching forums for ways to fully unlock the GPS feature of the phone, but have not found out how yet. My first order of business was to uninstall the push to talk (PTT) software; I finally got that sorted out, so now I’m trying to figure this out.

What do you think?

Matthias,
After I have downloaded the program and gone thru the steps you posted I can’t get the Google Maps to respond at all. I push the trackwheel and nothing happens. After about two minutes it returns to the home screen. “HELP” and THANKS…

Bill

Matthias:

I wanted to thank you for the directions/instructions for getting the google maps to my blackberry curve. I’ve downloaded and it works perfectly; don’t know why I was concerned about it. The satellite view is awesome by the way — shows the actual house and motorhome as well as the oil stain in the driveway.
I’m now a confirmed Crackberry.

Patrick

Yeah, I messed around with it some more and came to the same conclusion. Google seems to grab the gps when it’s availabe and uses the agps when it isn’t. In the test I ran above I failed to notice that I did not have gps reception when I was indoors. It said it was accurate within 4.5m, but that was last updated earlier in the day when I was outside. So both trials I ran were using agps only.

I stand corrected. Good tip on enabling this feature. Thanks!

Hi !!

Wonderful writing and a very interesting reading. I want to know 2 things in particular.

I have a BB-8310. In my area GPS doesnt work and I dont want to retain the GPS application in my phone either to get tracked by anyone. Can I delete the GPS application like I have deleted others like BB massanger and Yahoo massanger in my BB. I tried to delete GPS but couldn’t get any success.

Secondly, is it possible to delete the Enterprise Activation Application in my BB-8310 ?? I just dont use my BB for emailing.

I love it for its being a nice cute calling phone. Thats it.

Can you please guide me how to uninstall/delete/remove permanently the Enterprise Activation thingy and GPS from my BB.

Thanks Much.

Ethiya Ali

Hey, this was a great post. It helped me out immensely. Thanks!

Do you know if you have to use the data package after downloading Google Maps? Will the GPS feature work when not using a data package. I am looking at this phone to replace a phone and serve as a GPS and portable media player, but don’t need the email, browser, etc right now. but if there is the extra cost of the data package every month, I might as well just buy a regular GPS device. What do you think?

Thanks! this really helped

Do you have to pay an additional monthly charge to use the built in GPS feature on the Blackberry Curve? Or will having an unlimited data plan cover the GPS usage as well? (Or is using the built in GPS free?)

Does GPS work in other countries like in China or it only works in North America?

Hi,
I have followed what you say to the letter but to no avail - every time I try to run Google maps it just freezes and locks the whole phone up. I have tried uninstalling and re-installing about 7 times and the same thing happens every time. The phone is brand new (8310) and i’m in the UK. I have even tried to use the older version 1.6.4 that is a bit better because it starts to load the program and gets upto 4 (progress bar half way) then stops for a few minutes then comes back with a network error. The Gprs is working fine and the phone is connecting to the internet fine. Any ideas (Please,please !!)

Matthias,

A note of appreciation. I’m a new, not very adept, 8310 owner. I found this hint by googling “maps-gps-8310″ etc. I followed your instructions and, mirabile dictu, it worked!

As a sixtyish guy I sometimes have occasion to think how great the new internet age is. I have a little phone, the size of an index card, that does all this great stuff. I push a button and it knows where I am (well, pretty close)! It tells me how to go where I want to go. I need help with it and some guy in California (I’m in Connecticut) who I never met gives me great instructions. He doesn’t even want any money for it! I’m not sure if younger people understand how the world has changed in their lifetimes. It’s beyond science fiction.

I now plan to scan all your other ideas. I wish there were something I could do for you– but that’s also science fiction.

OK. I do have a question. When I edit permissions in Google Maps. I have three options– connections- interactions and user data- with the choice of allow-custom or deny. I hove connections and user data at allow and interactions at custom– not for any particular reason. How should I choose among these?

Thanks to you and all other contributors.

Rick

I have the same problem as Vicki.

The phone freezes and I have to turn it off.

Phone is 4 days old.

Is workef in my bb 8310! Thanks for ur information !!! I from malaysia country also can run the google map here!!! Thanks u brother!

Thanks so much Matthias…I was just about to post the exact same thing Andy did but now that you’ve clarified it, I’m anxious to try it outside of my high-rise where i’ve been testing it

I commented on Jan 22nd that I could not get Google maps to work. I have just today been able to use Google Maps. It would freeze up and not function. I would then have to turn the phone off and back on.
I finally called ATT and the Rep had me do a hard “reset” by taking out the battery while the BB is on. I left it out for about 2 minutes and then turned it back on. After a reboot I downloaded Google Maps and followed the onscreen instructions and it worked for the first time. This might help your readers. Thank you for your previous help.

Bill Davis

I did what Bill Davis did and it is now working!

Thx

The phone wont run google maps for some reason.Any ideas? the version 2.0.3. please help me.!!!!

Hi, I am new to this mainly because I now have the Blackberry 8310 with GPS. I followed the instructions and have successfully loaded google maps and it seems to have found me (or nearest to me).
On a normal Sat Nav like Garmin or Tom Tom, I am able to load my favourite addresses. I press * (A) key and it brings up favourites but I don’t seem to be able to add anymore new addresses. Is it possible? If yes, how is it done?

If it can be done, does google maps act like a Sat Nav i.e. directs you to the loaded address?
I read that the Tele Map tool does it but then I have to pay for that service and it cost £40 per year in England.

I would appreciate very much if anyone can help me.

Thanks

Hilary

Matthias

I have my new BB 8310 and very happy with this “spielzeug”, (I came from a treo 650). My spanish and german is better than “Englisch” (you surely understand better german) but lets go practice.

I read your intresting pages, Im forest egeneer in Chile and work a lot with gps, maps and data so this is for me the best solution at outdoors. We only have here “als Wild” the smallest deer of the world (like a fox terrier) and some pumas a lot of “wachteln” so you can come and shoot them all.

BB maps (tele atlas) only shows here maps for 30 km zoom up, and you can see only the nice limit of chile.

Now starting using the google maps.
I loaded Google maps and it doesent read satellites.
After uninstall and read your good comments, I start from new and started with gps reading satellites, (and try to save the data and i see a fast message or prompt wo says a error of null data or something like).
After that I try to start Google maps and it freezes all and there is nothing to do only a reboot taking batteries out for a while.

Do you have any Idea ?

Thanks
Alejandro

Is it possible to predownload maps in Blackberry 8310 and run GPS without dataplan or internet access ?

Best BB find ever. period.

As a Real Estate Appraiser, this is saving me heaps of time.

Cheers!

I have an 8310 Blackberry Curve. Under advanced options it has a “none” for GPS. Do I have to sign up with a provider? Where can I get GPS? Where do I download Google maps.

Matthias,
It seems you have a wealth of knowledge with BB 8310 can you
Help me to figure out why my voice dialing won’t work. When I say someone’s name it gives me someone totally different, can you please help.

Thanks Rick

This seemed to work wonders, after following the above instructions my aprox location went from 1600 meters to 3 meters. I just got the 8310 curve and downloaded this (saves $10/month).

Matthias,
Any reason to think that the JUST released Pearl 8110 with GPS would not work in the same way as you have described for the 8310?

Thanks.

it was so easy to set up all i did was everything you told me…
I love getting things for free thats man..

Hi

I’m from Malaysia. Why my blackberry 8310 could not install maps blackberry files

Matthias,

If I’ve already downloaded Google maps to my 8310 would I also need an internet connection on my phone to use it’s GPS or is there a work around.
Stand alone GPS doesn’t require an internet connect and I don’t use my phone to surf just to text so I was hoping not to incur the extra fees.

Thanks,
Paul

Hi Matthias my question to you is when using google maps on the BB Curve 8310 do you get charged for data use or does it come free since the gps is intergrated

Thanks,
Mark

Matthias, thanks for your great info. I cannot get the GPS data source to refresh when I hit the menu key. It continues to say NONE and will not allow access for refresh. Any ideas? thanks for the support.

Matthias after review I have determined that I have the curve 8300 and it does not support GPS. only the 8310 version does. Hope this helps.

I have a 8310 with GPS and the current version of Google Maps 2.2.0 … the problem is that it does not want to see my GPS no matter what I do. It always just uses teh cell tower triangulation technique which is good to 1600 meters ;-(

Any ideas? I have tried what is said here but still does not work.

Just downloaded with version 2.2 and works great

Good show Matthias, we do a lot with gps in Australia (refer http://www.trackstick.com.au ) and i thought there would be issues with this but going through your steps it works fine, a big trick here was taking the battery out for a minute and then putting it back in and we got the gps working a treat, no probs with google maps download, google maps in metro brisbane down to street level and accuracy about 5-10 meters…