A couple weeks back, Blackberry users on Verizon’s carrier network were reporting partially unlocked GPS on their phones. Verizon has traditionally been a closed off carrier that forced users to navigate with its proprietary VZ Navigator software, but its been under pressure lately to fully unlock the GPS on its phones. Finally, it seems the carrier is cracking.
A user nicknamed efudd from WMExperts apparently received the following letter from Verizon indicating it’ll be opening up GPS next year:
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
So it doesn’t appear that Blackberry phones will be unlocked, but a few Windows Mobile phones including the Omnia, Saga, and Touch Pro will. At least it’s a start!