GPS on Vodaphone.

[Goodbhoy]

I have an N95 on Vodafone and I have downloaded all the maps on to the phone.

I can calculate the route and then show me the map on screen.
I can simulate the route but when I actually try to navigate or track to my destination it asks me to purchase some additional features. e.g 12 months subscription for £40 and 3 years subscription for £47.

What am I actually paying for?
Do I have to pay any further charges after this to use my N95 as a Sat Nav device?

Help..........my phone bill is rocketing!!!

[KROC]

goodbhoy,
              like you i find it very frustrating that neither nokia or my service provider(orange) are open about the charges involved.I have just upgraded to navigation,only to be told to download the english language file-with no indication of cost or even if it can be downloaded via pc....and even then i have read on other forums there may be additional charges each time gps is used....HELP!

[Goodbhoy]

I tried using the GPS function whilst driving for a couple of times to track my current location and track me whilst I travelled a couple of streets.

My bill increased by £8.00 and I only had a 10 minute play with the thing. I wasn't even going on a journey.
I would gladly pay the £47 fee to navigate to my destination if I knew for sure that it would eliminate this extortionate GPS fee every time I wanted to use it.

[N95Tony]

I agree that the N95 can be a GPRS hungry beast. 

The only way around the data charges is to either get a good data plan (Web 'n Walk from T-Mobile is a good option)

OR

Turn off the GPRS in the maps application - but you will need to download the maps that you will need before your journey via your PC and put them onto your phone via the maploader program (available from Smart2Go's website).

[Goodbhoy]

Yes Tony, I have no trouble downloading the maps before the journey but how does it track me on my route without the GPRS.

I don't mind paying the £47 for the navigation fee if I get all the "...............turn left in 200 yards, take the third exit at the roundabout ahead." stuff!!

I want to know if I pay the navigation fee, do I then have to pay a further fee to track me which I can only think this is done with GPRS which means fees!!!

[N95Tony]

I think there maybe some confusion over GPS and GPRS...

GPS is Global Positioning System (sat-nav to use it's common term) whereas GPRS is the system use to transfer data accross a mobile network (mobile web-browsing, email etc).

The N95 WILL use the GPRS system to get map updates and sometimes it will connect if it cannot work out a route to your destination (I had this the other day which really baffled me)

But you can turn the GPRS function OFF via the options menu in the MAPS application - if you do this then the GPS (maps) system will not use your data connection for it's data but use the data it already has (the maps you have downloaded via the internet onto your PC and transfered to the N95 previously).

Next we have the voice guidance system (the talking "turn left" thing) - this is a bolt on extra and requires you to either pay for a licence via the smart2go website of via a couple of premium rate text's so that your bill is charged. Once you have activated the voice system then there should be NO MORE GPRS connections and charges.

[Goodbhoy]

Thanks Tony............that is a lot clearer now.

A one off fee and no further charges to use the sat nav.

I can get rid of my in car sat nav now.

[Dan_ex_SE_user]

Yup Tony, I'd already done this by the time I read your post and it works very well.
Only thing missing compared to normal SatNav is the street names / road names.
Unless I'm missing something most sat nav systems say things such as -
"Turn Left ont A34" etc.
This does not, just "Turn left"

It dosn't sound much but for £40 a year you would expect to have the full sh-bang?