Any hope of GPS unlock for Verizon Omnia? - Page 4

**Adrynalyne** · #31 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 10:13 AM

First they say it only will work with VZNav, then they say its only for emergency (911) locating?

Where do they find these monkeys?

ebross67 · #32 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 12:57 PM

**** Verizon - somebody hack this ***** and stick it in their arse!

condelestat · #33 (**permalink**) 03-15-2009, 02:09 AM

***bump***

jbullington · #34 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 02:53 PM

I took a different approach and emailed samsung instead of verizon to ask about the GPS and here is what I got back. What I got back was suprising and I went to the Samsung site and their literature no longer lists GPS as a feature on the phone see pdf link. PDF

"Dear John,

Thank you for your inquiry. The built-in GPS feature of the phone supports Emergency 911 only. This is so that in case of emergency, you can be located by emergency services. There is no support for the use of 3rd party GPS devices at this time, nor do we have information about future development in this area.

Do you have more questions regarding your Samsung Mobile Phone? For 24 hour information and assistance, we offer our new FAQ/ARS System (Automated Response System) at http://www.samsung.com/us/support/faqs/supportFaq.do. Be certain to check the Handy Resources links at the bottom of the page for quick access to things like the Owner's Manual, Warranty Information, Accessories, and more.

It's like having your very own personal Samsung Technician at your fingertips.

We do thank you for your interest in Samsung products.

Sincerely,
Technical Support"

Original Question (choose Samsung i910 when sending in question)
The GPS on this phone is currently locked. Verizon blames this on samsung and says it is waiting on you for a firmware update, and that they are hoping to have unlocked GPS functionality available by the 2nd half of 2009. Can you confirm this is the case and about when you will be sending updated firmware to verizon?
　

markr.allen · #35 (**permalink**) 03-24-2009, 04:47 PM

I was just reading the forums waiting for my Omnia to arrive after turning my 6700 into a bookend last week. I called Verizon and ordered today , when asking about the GPS they placed me on hold until a double talking tech rep could give me a headache and make we regret I had ever asked. Their response was the GPS is enabled and usable with vznav ( no kidding) when I asked about third party software they stated that they can not guarantee 3rd party applications to work with the GPS .. so needless to say they would not say " yes" or " no" which I knew they wouldn't anyway.. I ordered still without hesitation and will keep cruising the boards looking for that " omnia kitchen " billboard..

Until then, I am going to cook the donkey out of my 6700 until I find every possible cab I can that I may or may not want to drop onto the omnia..

Thanks to all the developers who made my 6700 so much fun, I'll be using your handywork for years to come but now on my soon to arrive Omnia.

**syrguy1969** · #36 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 02:36 PM

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
ITT Corp. (ITT) filed suit against several wireless phone companies, including a partnership involving Verizon Wireless, alleging the companies infringed upon a global positioning system patent.
The company said Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and Vodafone Group PLC (VOD), continues to infringe on the patent by selling cellphones adapted to operate with assisted GPS technology and by providing services including support for GPS. ITT said it has notified Verizon Wireless of the patent.
The company also said Verizon Wireless has induced other companies to violate the patent by encouraging them to sell GPS phones and provide a cellular network that supports GPS operations.
Other defendants in the patent-infringement case include LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE); Motorola Inc. (MOT); Kyocera Corp. (KYO); Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM); and Nokia Corp. (NOK).
ITT settled patent-infringement claims several years ago against other wireless companies in disputes concerning assisted GPS technology.
The company is demanding a permanent injunction against the defendants to prevent them from infringing on the patent further, except where needed to support 911 calls.
Verizon Wireless declined to comment, while a Motorola spokesman said, "We do not think we're in the wrong and we'll defend ourselves vigorously." The rest couldn't be reached for comment.
ITT's shares were recently up 13 cents at $39.29, while Verizon lost 3 cents to $30.48.
-By Kerry E. Grace, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5089; kerry.grace@dowjones.com

This could mean a few things. We may actually be the lucky ones if VZW decides to just pull the GPS chips out altogether and redo their thinking.

**Adrynalyne** · #37 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 05:45 PM

Only lucky if we find a way to unlock it

A locked GPS without at least VZNav service isn't exactly helpful

Ender0715 · #38 (**permalink**) 03-25-2009, 08:25 PM

Just a quick thought... I haven't messed with trying to unlock the GPS at all I really wont know where to start but has anyone looked into a possibility of just a missing driver... I was looking into a fix for a friend on an HTC that was running WM5 or 6 and found out that the driver just wasn't installed and found a hack for it. If it is just a missing driver how can we get it is it on the i900 and how do we get a copy... Just a thought...

echew · #39 (**permalink**) 03-26-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syrguy1969

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
ITT Corp. (ITT) filed suit against several wireless phone companies, including a partnership involving Verizon Wireless, alleging the companies infringed upon a global positioning system patent.
The company said Verizon Wireless, a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and Vodafone Group PLC (VOD), continues to infringe on the patent by selling cellphones adapted to operate with assisted GPS technology and by providing services including support for GPS. ITT said it has notified Verizon Wireless of the patent.
The company also said Verizon Wireless has induced other companies to violate the patent by encouraging them to sell GPS phones and provide a cellular network that supports GPS operations.
Other defendants in the patent-infringement case include LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE); Motorola Inc. (MOT); Kyocera Corp. (KYO); Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM); and Nokia Corp. (NOK).
ITT settled patent-infringement claims several years ago against other wireless companies in disputes concerning assisted GPS technology.
The company is demanding a permanent injunction against the defendants to prevent them from infringing on the patent further, except where needed to support 911 calls.
Verizon Wireless declined to comment, while a Motorola spokesman said, "We do not think we're in the wrong and we'll defend ourselves vigorously." The rest couldn't be reached for comment.
ITT's shares were recently up 13 cents at $39.29, while Verizon lost 3 cents to $30.48.
-By Kerry E. Grace, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5089; kerry.grace@dowjones.com

This could mean a few things. We may actually be the lucky ones if VZW decides to just pull the GPS chips out altogether and redo their thinking.

NICE!!!! They won't though, it would be too cost prohibitave for them to do that. It wouln't be worth it. Though future phones may be in question.

**syrguy1969** · #40 (**permalink**) 03-26-2009, 11:14 AM

That was what I was thinking as well....future phones will be at risk...obviously it won't change anything for us (especially if VZW follows through on the promise to unlock the GPS - which could actually help their case). The future of GPS-enabled devices may be in question though (the way I see it) VZW may decide to just release any hold on GPS and use the reliability (?-haven't used it myself-?) and quality of their GPS app to sell people on it, Or they can go the other way and have the devices made without GPS and fins another direction-giving method.