GPS on iPhone 3G

[Drella]

It’s interesting that Google (which currently provides the only real-time mapping for the iPhone) gets map data from Tele Atlas which was bought out by TomTom.

There is an enlightening article in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7619296 which describes the relationship between Tele Atlas and Google. Also of note is the text near the end which says:

Tele Atlas said it would not have access to Google's database of mobile phone network cell IDs, which Google uses in its maps application for mobile phones to estimate a user's current location.
De Taeye [Tele Atlas’ founder] said he expected real-time, turn-by-turn navigation applications to be available for Apple Inc's iPhone despite reports that Apple's rules for developing iPhone software appeared not to allow it.
"We are making sure that navigation is an application that is allowed," De Taeye said. "If there is any restriction on the platform, that indeed has to do with the restrictions that we have in our contracts. Navigation is allowed, provided that the right fees are paid."
Royalties for real-time navigation are higher than for maps that are just used to display a static location. ($1=.6353 Euro)

 

[lemon^]

I'm new to using GPS and I've been wondering if using it will create additional costs on the iPhone. Are all the maps locally stored on the iPhone or does it load them from the internet using 3G? I'm curious to this since I would like to use my iPhone for navigating when I'm abroad and the datarates are usually pretty high when using a subscription from another country.

-lemon

 

[TonyHoyle]

The maps are currently loaded dynamically, from google. A no go for overseas driving I expect.

If TomTom are allowed to release their navigation software then that'll have its own maps I expect.