Neil Monk wrote:
> Hi group,
>
> I've heard mentions of the N95's Sat nav not being free for turn by turn
> directions.
>
> I fail to see how this can be chargeable? I'd have thought the nav software
> would be on the phone/memory card so who charges for turn by turn
> directions, how, and why?
>
> Cheers,
The basic mapping and route finding are free, as you rightly say the
software is on the phone already (it's actually a rebranded version of
Smart2Go see link below). Other maps are also free, there is a download
manager to run on a PC so that you don't have to hammer your 3G/GPRS
internet connection. They can be downloaded directly to your phone if
you wish.
Turn by turn, voice aided, navigation is only available as part of a
subscription. This is available on a 3day, one week, one month or one
year basis. It's not expensive. The first time that you subscribe, the
voice pack will automatically be downloaded. It's about 2MB so watch out
if your on an expensive data tariff.
I personally use TomTom on an E61 with an external GPS unit, however
people I know that use the on-board mapping on the N95 seem to like this
subscription service... it means they only pay when they actually need
it and it works out much cheaper than the "pay for the map" payment
model. Payment is made, amongst other means, by an automatically
generated premium text (for the cheaper subscriptions) direct from the
software itself.
Be warned though, the GPS receiver inside the N95 is not a patch on the
modern SIRFIII chipsets and can take a while to get a fix. It is also
nowhere near as sensitive as the modern chips, so needs a clear line of
site to the satellites its tracking.
As an aside, this software is available for free download for any S60 v3
Nokia and also (I believe) for UIQ Sony's as well.
http://smart2go.com/en/
Note... I have no link to Nokia or Smart2Go
Timfy
Re: N95 Sat Nav 
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