Free the GPS on your 8330
June 10th, 2008 | by BlackBerry News |
A really common complaint about the 8330 Curve is that the GPS often doesn’t work unless it’s in conjunction with a carrier approved voice-navigation app. While there is not an official fix for this issue at the present time — I’m told that one is due out next month — it does appear that at least one free 3rd party app “unlocks” the GPS features of the phone to other applications, BlackBerry Maps and Google Maps included.
This application is GPSed, a neat program which tracks your movements and allows you to view them at a later time via Google Maps. All you need to do is open the application outdoors and it will eventually get a lock on satellite signals. I average about 30 seconds or less for a lock, but have occassionally had it take more than two minutes. The good news is that after GPSed acquires a lock, any application on your phone that uses GPS should be able to lock onto a signal. You can now decide whether you want to leave GPSed run to track your movements or shut it off.
Give it a try. It’s better than paying $10/month for a really terrible service.
(NOTE: This only works for 8330s from Alltel, Bell, Sprint, and Telus. Sorry Verizon users.)
Written by BlackBerryForums.com user MikeyPants (Previous BlackBerryNews Writer)
4 Responses to “Free the GPS on your 8330”
By Penny on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Sorry Verizon! Thats just wrong. Why are we being left out!!! Is there a solution for us step children??
By Cracky on Jul 30, 2008 | Reply
GPSEd does not fix the BlackBerry Curve 8330’s GPS on Telus. Using GPSEd allowed me to get a fix once, then it just stopped working the next day. Haven’t had GPS since. My advice: Stay FAR away from this product if you want GPS.
By jewfish on Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
Well, I wouldn’t say it’s terrible. I mean, sure it stinks paying $10/month for what should be included in the monthly access fee, but I’ve found it pretty useful when I’m in a city I don’t know and I want to find a particular restaurant or store closest to my location.
By Cracky on Aug 25, 2008 | Reply
I am very comfortable calling this product terrible. I would use much worse words but I don’t want to offend people. It just simply doesn’t work, and neither Telus nor RIM will help me make it work.