Watch out for data charges on your GPS phone

By Derek Fung on 27 August 2007

Thanks to the an almost undocumented feature on the Nokia 6110 Navigator, we unwittingly racked up over AU$50 in data charges the first month we used it. Read on to find out how to avoid our fate.

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Comments (62)

  • Hugh Saalmans commented on 31/05/2009 13:06

    A bit late - but thought I'd clear up a few things based on some comments above:

    GPS doesn't work indoors, unless you're in something like a canvas circus tent. That's where assisted GPS comes into it's own... It also can fail under heavy tree foliage (e.g. a nice forest drive)...

    3 is the minimum satellites for a GPS position fix, you just won't get an altitude, plus your position could be inaccurate.

    Assisted GPS does 2 useful things:

    1. It corrects your satellite signals for atmospheric conditions that reduce the accuracy of your position;

    2. It uses distance to the nearest cell towers to determine your location when the GPS signals are poor or not available (i.e. indoors)

  • Anne commented on 19/05/2009 16:02

    Recently purchased a 6210 and was as happy as a pig in mud with the GPS till I got my phone bill yesterday. I cannot thank you enough for the advice of turning off the Assisted and Network option as I don't want another bill like my current one.

  • chad commented on 21/01/2009 18:59

    thanks CNET i am planning 2 buy this phone and will be aware of this feature at first setup.
    there just doing there job to review and inform.

  • dk commented on 19/01/2009 10:33

    fyi, four satellites, not three as stated by the author, are usually required for a position fix. Three to trilaterate the position of the receiver, one to correct for receiver clock bias (four variables: time, latitude, longitude, altitude). Not a very knowledgeable author when it comes to GPS me thinks. Sure, let people know about the charges with A-GPS, but if you want to talk about how it works as well, research it better...

  • tripping commented on 09/01/2009 16:23

    Stumbled on this article by accident, came in very handy. I have the N85, instructions are almost similar to 6110 - Tools-Settings-General-Positioning-Positioning Method-Untick Assisted and Network Based GPS, leaving only Integrated ticked aka free GPS.

    Downside is wont be using Google Maps(friend's demo looks fantastic) as this will also incur data charges.

  • HonestGuy commented on 01/01/2009 20:35

    This is a very useful article. I am a very successful businessman and do not have time to do "research" on Mobile hidden fee. Only weirldo DOES!!!!

  • Roof commented on 23/12/2008 22:14

    navigate mode >option>extras> Network connection choose "Do not allow" and your GPS works for free

  • Dodge69 commented on 27/11/2008 00:23

    I totally agree with the Cnet article. The language in the Nokia manual is not designed to make the costs of A-GPS clear to the average user and the techno nerds who criticised your article should bear this in mind. My retailer did not understand this either, nor did the Vodafone operator I spoke to. This is not surprising, given that Vodafone sneakily moved its call centre operation overseas (guess where) sometime in the last two years. My N95 8GB phone chewed up so much money on a short drive across the city that I pursued the matter until I had the answers. Check out the Nokia website owners' blogs and you will find a large number of angry people who have had the same experience. The six month navigation licence that comes with this phone is just a way to get people hooked on this function before getting more money out of them to extend it. How about a comparison of different phones and the way GPS is charged. Nokia doesn't charge for maps, but gets you with the navigation licence renewals. Others do it differently. Which is best?

  • Paul F commented on 23/08/2008 08:29

    The instructions to turn off are rather confusing: "Uncheck the item Integrated GPS with Assist" Yet I have "Assisted GPS" and "Integrated GPS". Can anyone shed some light on which one is the "free" method of using GPS on the 6110? Cheers!

  • tester commented on 06/08/2008 09:18

    Incredible! So many readers seem to be grateful - and yet it is clear, that the reviewers dont have a clue what they are writing about. The article is completely wrong - they didnt even get what a-gps is. I am surprised that cnet hasnt taken it off the web since it is very misleading.

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