What's the difference between gps enabled & built in gps in cell phones?

i'm planning to buy a blackberry that have gps features. i need something that doesn't require me to download maps, i mean it can receive signal straight from satellites like any other gps receiver.

i'm currently using nokia n95. the gps feature requires me to buy maps from nokia which i found a bit waste of money.

so, what's the difference? can you recommend me blackberry models with the gps feature & wi fi?


gps enabled and built in gps got nothing to do with the maps.

Or rather phone has pre-installed maps if you purchase from major carrier in a particular region. i.e. singapore , most phone are pre-installed with the map (nokia series)

whether it is gps enabled or built in, it's referring to the same thing.

note, A-GPS is still GPS except their start up connection which are weaker and will require connection to assisted server (AS) via 3G/GPRS/Wifi.

those phone can still work alone without connecting to AS but you got to wait a pretty long time.

blackberry one will include Curve, Bold and Storm that have all the above feature of GPS and wifi

What is the cheepsest way to achive GPS?

Get an actual GPS unit like Garmin or Magellen?

Get a second hand laptop or portable PC and buy a gps module and software?

Please let me know what is the cheepest device and or the cheepest combination of devices to get a functional GPS device.


The actual cheapest is to buy a used iDEN cellphone that has GPS in it. I have two i58sr's - both have GPS functions on them, and I can program the units with my own custom Java programs for using the data. Newer iDEN phones have color screens, and still others have even the map software with it too. You dont need to have access to the iDEN service to have it work either.