Google Maps on yr mobile

[slofox]

I actually got Google maps to work on my phone this time...last time I tried it, it refused to load properly for some unknown reason - nearly went the same way this time, but second try succeeded...now I need a phone with a BIGGER SCREEN! and a bit more patience as well...

[Bren]

As far as data rated are concerned last time I played with it on my phone it cost me about 20 cents for 5 min use....

...I am on 2 degrees...must be cheaper than vodaphone or telescum

[onearmedbandit]

Will have to wait to see what 2deg charge for broadband. Their 3g cell sites aren't running yet.

[Devil]

What you can do, if your phone has Wifi (like the N95), is you can go wander around till you find an unsecured access point, fire up google maps and just browse around building your map cache for free

[bungbung]

Do you need to be within cell coverage, on can you cache the maps of your intended route in advance?

(for non-gps phones, e.g. my symbian 60 series phone)

[onearmedbandit]

You can cache in advance. And yeah it's great finding a wi-fi spot and catching a free ride off that. Google have just recently updated the res for the Chch map, very sharp now.

[XP@]

Yup maps on mobile was great on the Rusty nuts grand challenge.
the only downside was getting it out in the wet.

But if I was really worried i would have got my umbrella out (really useful acccessory!).

[breakaway]

For those of you on Vodafone - you can get a data add on even if you're on prepay. The plan gives you 100MB for $10 (for one month). Text 'bblite' to 756 to buy it.

[EnzoYug]

If you've got a Nokia try Nokia maps. Uses only GPS (which is free if you have it) which should be available anywhere you can see the sky. No cell-reception required.

Nokia maps downloads into your (obviously) Nokia phone before hand and doesn't need data or cell coverage. Google is prettier, but Nokia gets the job done more reliably!

[marigami]

Excuse me but do you mean that you are using your mobile phone to plan your journey or do you use when pausing while you are travelling ?
I do have GPS on my Iphone but as much as I like to find my way I xwould not imagine using it while ridiing or while planning my journey...

I am not so keen on very well prepared trip I mean I am ok to print the main roads and direction but anyway I eventually end to get lost at the very last of my trip especially whenn travelling in small villages so why not let the curiosity and mystery have its try ?
Of course if you are not in a hurry !
I usually use my GPS on my phone while...walking in Paris to find my way... or to help my friends to drive me back by car.
Are there a lot of GPS for bikers, I mean already set on new bikes in NZ?
Here in France it is not so much spread yet.
But do we really need them that much ?
And anyway don't you have any problem with wifi connection, I mean do you hhave wifi everywhere in the country, because I know, as i am talking of what I know, that in France there are areas where wifi and internet are unavailable, because of landscape or because there are not many people living there.

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Used the feature on my blackberry when in the UK, got back to a $340 bill! Didn't get lost though.

[XP@]

Excuse me but do you mean that you are using your mobile phone to plan your journey or do you use when pausing while you are travelling ?
I do have GPS on my Iphone but as much as I like to find my way I xwould not imagine using it while ridiing or while planning my journey...

You can get a bracket with waterproof plastic box which attaches to your handle bars for the GPS's like Garmin.
You plan your route on the computer, transfer it to the GPS put the GPS on the bike and follow it's instructions...
these people do iphone mounts, but not waterproof ones...
http://www.ramsolutions.co.nz/webapp...d_groupid=6565

For the last ride I did I used it to store the checkpoints then when I got lost used the map to locate where i was (it found me within 1km). I did have to stop and get my phone out of my bag.

[genki]

You dont have you pay a fortune to Vodafone or Telecom to be able to use gps navigation. I am using a HTC phone with Garmin Maps on it and it cost nothing to use GPS as the phone has a built-in GPS receiver. You can search any address in NZ and phone has voice guided navigation. The beauty is you can download most uptodate Garmin maps for NZ and rest of the world for free too! I have just upgraded my phone to a latest HTC, so this phone will soon go up on TradeMe