Sprint Navigation Do I have to purchase subscription?

[bcutlerj]

Hello,

Just switched out my Q for the new Q9c at Sprint. Now that I have GPS capabilities, I want to use them. Must I purchase the sprint navigation package @ $15/month? I really hope that there is another (free) means of accomplishing this. Any and all help welcome. Thanks in advance.

-B

[PacoJr67]

There are a number of other softwares that can do most of the same things for free. The most popular are Google maps mobile, and windows live search. Both do require a data plan to download the map information though.

[bcutlerj]

Thank you. Do you have any idea whether any of these services - I'm pretty familiar with Google's - offer the turn by turn voice prompting like a traditional portable GPS unit? My instinct tells me the Sprint service does. But hearing "oops you passed it" really won't justify $15/month. -B

[PacoJr67]

I have all three (the nav package is included in my vision plan) Sprint nav is the only one that does voice prompting (all three do turn by turn without voice) I use google maps most often for navigating while on foot, and Sprint nav while driving.

[bcutlerj]

Sure. I have a vision plan with the SERO package. They want extra for the S-nav. Maybe if I gripe a little they'll add it. Guess I'm sticking with the google product for now. Thanks again. -B

[PacoJr67]

see there's the thing. I'm not on SERO. I have the Vision professional pack ($30 per month), that one includes the nav as well.

[rainmakerrc]

Originally Posted by bcutlerj

Sure. I have a vision plan with the SERO package. They want extra for the S-nav. Maybe if I gripe a little they'll add it. Guess I'm sticking with the google product for now. Thanks again. -B

You can try to get Sprint to add it, but it'll all depend on the person you talk to. Lots will say that you're already getting a good deal with SERO and why shouldn't you pay for Sprint Nav. You'll need to be very persistent to get it added for free.

[ljblock]

Originally Posted by PacoJr67

see there's the thing. I'm not on SERO. I have the Vision professional pack ($30 per month), that one includes the nav as well.

I don't know what you're currently paying but the Sprint Nav is included in the "simply everything" plan. So with the added $30 maybe cheaper!!

[PacoJr67]

I have 3 phones on a shared plan, and I use maybe 150 minutes a month so I just don't need unlimited minutes, yet

[Eccentricity]

I own a satellite installation company so I use Sprint Navigation on a daily basis to find my customers. Before I switched to the Q I had a Moto Razor v3m and Sprint Nav worked perfectly on the Razor. On my Q it acts stupid and will do things like recalculating the route 20 times in sucession while driving down a straight interstate (and on the proper course). It also does idiotic things like sending me home a totally different way than it sends me out (even in rural areas with no traffic). The shortest route is always the shortest route regardless of which direction you are travelling it. I miss my VZ Navigator I had while on Verizon. It was the best phone-based navigaton program I have ever had. Sprint needs to do some serious debugging to their software. Now I just carry the laptop with me and use Microsoft Streets and Trips with its GPS sensor. I don't need a cell signal to use that and it does what its supposed to.

I like the features of the Q but, overall, I am not impressed with it. I have found lots of bugs in the available software. I miss calls sometimes while on PDANet. I have to reset the phone after using PDANet or I can't get my Q Apps to connect to the internet. It's been one bug after another with the Sprint phone. I am wondering if Verizon's Q is any better... I may switch back to them. A least I can send picture mail with Verizon's without jumping through hoops. Sprint's rates are better but the money means less than functionality for me.