Google Maps Mobile Updated for Symbian - Includes Virtual GPS
Non-N95/E90/N82/6110 owners rejoice! Thanks to Google, you too can experience an application telling you where you are currently located! Google has updated its Maps Mobile application to include a new My Location service that uses Virtual GPS (celltower triangulation) as a substitute for real GPS.
You can download the application with that same web address we all know and love for Google Maps Mobile, http://www.google.com/gmm. The new version uses the known location of the cell towers you are connected to in order to plot your approximate location on a map, to use for routing and local searching.
With this nearly as accurate as real GPS, I can’t help but wonder what the future of GPS is? I know that may sound a bit forward, but think about it for a few moments. What do you think?
Google also put together a fun little video to watch that explains the whole thing. Click below to watch the vid…..
This is possible that you and your friend that are on different networks and at same place are getting different results. Let’s take an example of Google Earth. A few years ago when it was launched; it didn’t have place name of each and every location compared to today and even still it’s getting finer each day. If you are a member of Google Earth community then you can contribute by sharing the names of those places that you know. The same thing applies here at GMM. Google didn’t say but it need volunteers. Here the information is mobile carrier specific. That means On the same place ATT tower might be registered to GMM MyL but it’s not necessary that Vodafone’s tower is also registered in MyL database of Google.
As i said earlier Google needs volunteers that means only those people who have GPS Handsets with GMM Running or Handsets which are attached to GPS Accessories like Sony Ericsson HGE 100 or any Bluetooth GPS Accessory and GMM software ON can help Google to enriched it’s database of Mobile towers.
Now again let’s move back to the problem when 2 people on different networks are at same place. If a first person gets the approximate location information on GMM that means that some times ago a person who has GPS Phone or Phone with GPS Accessory had passed to that location while GMM was running so GMM has sent the information of that Tower and saved into the database.
So, if you have a phone that can work with GPS and you want that your area or village gets fully covered on GMM so that other citizens or tourists who doesn’t have GPS Phone can take an advantage of it; then you have volunteer for it. If there is a vacation or weekend then just attach GPS accessory or start in-built GPS and on the meantime start GMM. Now just roam around your favourite places. Next time when anyone without GPS functionality will use GMM; he will not receive error messages like “location temporary available” and at the end of the day you will feel content that you did something for your area or locality and now it is fully covered under your favourite mobile carrier/ Operator.
If this method is getting costly to you then do one thing, start Cell Information on your phone. Now if you see a new location name on screen then just start your GPS and GMM and Google will register it. Now exit the software. Again if you come to that place where different location name is showing then do the same thing. Thus your favourite area will get 100% covered.
In short, if more people with GPS use this service in different areas the more it will get enrich.
Installed on my N75, but when I hit zero or “My Location” I keep getting “Your location is temporarily unavailable” and I’ve been getting that for the 4 days since I installed.. any idea what might be the reason?
I get the same error with my N95 using 3G. However, “My Location” works when I change the network mode to GSM only; give it a shot. Hopefully Google will address this issue soon.
There is already a v.minor update 2.0.0(5) previous 2.0.0(3). Not sure if this addresses issue.
Been told verizon or some carrier are blocking this. It works fine in windsor(across detroit) with HTC S710. A little off but cant be perfect now can it…without gps
I’m using an N95-3 on AT&T’s 3G networks, and so far, I haven’t had a single problem… It takes a few moments to lock on to the satellites, of course, but from that point on, it works just like it’s supposed to!
I mostly keep getting locations unavailable on my N75, but I think it’s a tower issue.
Wade,
The issue is with the “my location” tool using 3G, it has nothing to do with the GPS location (the tool does not require GPS.) For some reason, it only works when the phone is running on GSM only mode.