In article
<kurtullman-283B6A.00075808072007@customer-201-125-217-207.uninet.net.mx>
, Kurt Ullman <kurtullman@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> As of 2005, the government mandated GPS in the cell phones for 911
> reasons.
> http://www.maps-gps-info.com/gpcp.html

But the government did NOT mandate GPS; it mandated a locating system
and its needed accuracy.
Simply giving a location is NOT GPS. It's the other way around;
sometimes the way to know the location is through GPS. Then it may be
given to E911 or whomever.

> > > Though you're more likely to get an answer from the makers
> > > of the Neo1973 -http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Neo1973
> > > or from http://howstuffworks.com
> >
> > How Stuff Works gave a good start, then gave up when it got to my part
> > of the question -- does it really use GPS satellites and calculations
> > to build the location?
>
> Most, although from my reading on google, seems as though some
> companies might be using a triangulation method from the cell towers.


Here's the reason for my question:
if these phones actually use GPS, and are therefore full GPS units, why
is anyone trying to sell GPS units?
Why aren't the cell makers building all GPS features into their
already-capable phones? (Note that giving directions is not a GPS
feature, but an application of GPS info.)
Why are all GPS devices larger (some by several times) than all cell
phones, when small size is just as useful to those?
Why aren't better GPS features appearing in cell phones?

I think the reason is that they don't have GPS at all, but a simpler
triangulation off cell antennas. That may be enough for E911, maybe
even for giving directions, but it doesn't give them the right to call
it GPS or take advantage of the popular assumption of GPS accuracy.
It's not a satellite system and it's not global and it doesn't deserve
the acronym or the reputation.