It looks like Verizon is eventually going to follow through with opening up GPS on Windows Mobile phones to 3rd Party applications. Recently the unlocked the GPS for third party applications on Blackberry so Blackberry Maps will work on Blackberry Devices. According to the article posted by WMExperts.com the focus of this is specifically on the Omnia, Saga and Touch Pro phones. The update to unlock is suppose to come sometime in the first half of 2009. Read on for the press statement
Statement from Verizon Wireless:
Verizon Wireless, like all carriers, orders devices to meet certain specifications inclusive of features. Each of these specs is tested to determine if it meets our performance goals. There are instances when the phone will pass our extensive testing process but a specific feature may not meet the standard. We will often choose to introduce the phone without that feature but ask that the manufacturer come back to us with revised software that has to be tested to make sure the service works the same across our entire wireless footprint –from Maine to Hawaii. In the case of open standalone GPS, we are partnering with the Windows Mobile device manufacturers to provide a software upgrade that will add this capability to the existing assisted GPS capability. This is a complex development project to provide open standalone GPS while maintaining the assisted GPS capability with the level of performance and security that our customers expect. The recently introduced Windows Mobile devices including Omnia, Saga, and Touch Pro are targeted to add open standalone GPS in the 1st half of 2009.
Steve Schwed
Verizon Wireless
HQ Executive Relations Supervisor
Photon and Article Courtesy of WMExperts.Com
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