TopshamLad
New Member
I'm looking to buy a new 3G phone with GPS that's ideally cheap(ish) and relatively robust. Can anybody recommend a suitable make/model/tariff?
Which smart phone with GPS?
- Thread starter TopshamLad
- Start date
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nigelnorris
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Birmingham
I needed something cheap and have an N73 [anything that has Symbian S60 operating system will work] with separate bluetooth GPS unit. Only about 40 quid for the GPS unit, and having them both using separate batteries makes for longer life on the road. Can use TomTom Navigator 6 with it, about 50 quid off eBay. It's certainly robust, I've been using the same phone and receiver for about 3 years now on a regular basis.
I use mine as a music player too, get about 6 hours continuous use from the phone with music playing and satnav running, though the GPS unit goes for much longer - about 24 hours according to the instructions. I've just bought a spare battery for the phone from Amazon marketplace which looks like a cheap copy but has the same lifespan, only a fiver.
I never use the phone display, just put it in my pocket and follow the spoken directions through an earpiece - takes me everywhere and it's never failed me yet [beyond the occasional cockup that all TomTom software makes.]
I use mine as a music player too, get about 6 hours continuous use from the phone with music playing and satnav running, though the GPS unit goes for much longer - about 24 hours according to the instructions. I've just bought a spare battery for the phone from Amazon marketplace which looks like a cheap copy but has the same lifespan, only a fiver.
I never use the phone display, just put it in my pocket and follow the spoken directions through an earpiece - takes me everywhere and it's never failed me yet [beyond the occasional cockup that all TomTom software makes.]
Sheepy1209
Veteran
- Location
- Blackpool
I've got the Nokia E71 with Three for £20 a month including unlimited text and internet. The phone's metal-bodied, quick, reliable, good battery life, and the GPS is pretty quick at locking on.
It comes with Nokia Maps, which uses free maps that you can download onto the memory card - if you want voice navigation you have to pay a subscription, but it's not that good at that anyway and TomTom's a better bet.
However, and here's where the unlimited internet comes in - you can also install Google Maps for free - so you get stuff like satellite imagery. You need to be in 3G coverage but I've never found that a problem - and I've found Three OK. They used to not allow cancellation if you had signal problems, but that's changed recently.
I've also bookmarked the metoffice weather radar - so I can see whether there's any rain and where it's heading.
The phone's also a reasonable mp3 player.
It comes down to what you want from GPS. If it's voice navigation, TomTom's the leader - but if you just want to know where you are and/or look for pleasant routes while you're out and about (satellite imagery really helps here) I can recommend the E71.
http://threestore.three.co.uk/priceplans.aspx?id=1401&phonecode=NOE71G3DSL
It comes with Nokia Maps, which uses free maps that you can download onto the memory card - if you want voice navigation you have to pay a subscription, but it's not that good at that anyway and TomTom's a better bet.
However, and here's where the unlimited internet comes in - you can also install Google Maps for free - so you get stuff like satellite imagery. You need to be in 3G coverage but I've never found that a problem - and I've found Three OK. They used to not allow cancellation if you had signal problems, but that's changed recently.
I've also bookmarked the metoffice weather radar - so I can see whether there's any rain and where it's heading.
The phone's also a reasonable mp3 player.
It comes down to what you want from GPS. If it's voice navigation, TomTom's the leader - but if you just want to know where you are and/or look for pleasant routes while you're out and about (satellite imagery really helps here) I can recommend the E71.
http://threestore.three.co.uk/priceplans.aspx?id=1401&phonecode=NOE71G3DSL
