GPS-A (Gps assist), hardware or software?

[Tiago Machado]

Hi,

I know (for example) the HTC Diamond, the internal GPS does an GPS Assist (send data packet to network to help GPS do triangulation, speeding GPS location. The obvious problem, is that I have to paid to my service provider that (one) data packet (in my case, 0.33€).

What I really dont know, if this is a software or hardware specification. I want to sincronyze my Niki with an Holux 236 (I'm searching for one), and I dont know I will have to paid anything to navigate around my country.

Anyone can help me?

[kitzu]

Hi, I think we all need some clarification on the GPS vs. aGPS.
Here is a good article to read:
http://wmexperts.com/articles/gps_vs_agps_a_quick_tutorial.html

In conclusion you need a receiver in order to have any type of GPS on your phone. In most cases aGPS doesn’t require the maps to be present on your phone as they are been downloaded in real time.
If you have a GPS receiver on your phone you can use other software (like Garmin or TomTom) with maps loaded on you card. In this case there is no need for data communication and you can use it without paying aGPS fees. I confirm that as I use it on my Neon400.

The location identification through tower triangulation cannot be done with good accuracy and not in “real time”. It is not reliable for car navigation but it is used for police, etc to find your approx. location.