Google Maps beta for phones now shows your location without GPS

Bob Russell · 11-28-2007, 12:44 PM

Now your phone may just be the only GPS-like device you need.

With the new beta of Google Maps, your phone can not only show you maps and directions, but it will also determine your location. Google calls it the "magical blue circle", and it's their way of showing you roughly where you are located based on the nearest cell towers. I'm going to wait for it to get out of beta before trying it, but it sounds like a great feature for mobile phone users.

Read more at Google's mobile blog page.

Nate the great · 11-28-2007, 01:07 PM

Give me a second and I will try it on the Kindle.

Don't think it will work.

mores · 11-28-2007, 01:26 PM

doesn't work on my p1i.

TheMooch · 11-28-2007, 01:42 PM

I started playing with Google Maps on my Blackberry 8830 back in August when I first got it. Google Maps has had that ability since at least then. I dunno that this is actually new. I think what's new is that they've officially mentioned it on the blog.

I could be wrong (I frequently am).

TheMooch · 11-28-2007, 01:47 PM

wait....my 8830 has a gps chip.......magic blue dot is determining location based on cell towers.

My bad...back to your lives citizens...nothing to see here. We're returning the idiot to his village to teach him to read TFA.

13xforever · 11-29-2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

I'm going to wait for it to get out of beta before trying it.

Well, good luck there

. You know, it's Google's policy to name there services as Betas until they're really, really, [place as many as you want here], really sure that this service will suffice for every user 100%. That's why Gmail still beta for so many months now.

fryandlaurie · 11-29-2007, 06:56 AM

Does not work on my Nokia 6280, too bad.

As far as I know, offering "location based services" was going to be one of the most promising cash cows for mobile service providers in the future. I would imagine that they will try to prevent third parties from using location information gleaned from connected cell towers, if in any way possible

11-28-2007, 12:44 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Google Maps beta for phones now shows your location without GPS Now your phone may just be the only GPS-like device you need. With the new beta of Google Maps, your phone can not only show you maps and directions, but it will also determine your location. Google calls it the "magical blue circle", and it's their way of showing you roughly where you are located based on the nearest cell towers. I'm going to wait for it to get out of beta before trying it, but it sounds like a great feature for mobile phone users. Read more at Google's mobile blog page.

11-28-2007, 01:07 PM	#2
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	Give me a second and I will try it on the Kindle. Don't think it will work. Last edited by Nate the great; 11-28-2007 at 01:15 PM.

11-28-2007, 01:42 PM	#4
TheMooch Member Retired Posts: 102 Karma: 226 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Device: PRS-500 Sony eReader	ummmmmmm.....Old news? I started playing with Google Maps on my Blackberry 8830 back in August when I first got it. Google Maps has had that ability since at least then. I dunno that this is actually new. I think what's new is that they've officially mentioned it on the blog. I could be wrong (I frequently am).

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11-28-2007, 01:26 PM	#3
mores Guru Posts: 834 Karma: 102419 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: iPhone	doesn't work on my p1i.

11-28-2007, 01:47 PM	#5
TheMooch Member Retired Posts: 102 Karma: 226 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Device: PRS-500 Sony eReader	wait....my 8830 has a gps chip.......magic blue dot is determining location based on cell towers. My bad...back to your lives citizens...nothing to see here. We're returning the idiot to his village to teach him to read TFA.

11-29-2007, 06:56 AM	#7
fryandlaurie Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Germany Device: Sony Reader	Does not work on my Nokia 6280, too bad. As far as I know, offering "location based services" was going to be one of the most promising cash cows for mobile service providers in the future. I would imagine that they will try to prevent third parties from using location information gleaned from connected cell towers, if in any way possible