Simple question: turn by turn directions and data usage

[Loa]

Hello,

When you use a GPS app to navigate, does it require a data plan?

Thanks

Loa

 

[iDuel]

Yes, unless the map is already downloaded, you will need a data plan in order to be able to use turn by turn.

 

[Loa]

Hello,

Thanks. Does it use a lot of data?

Loa

 

[VolceOntra]

No, not really. Apple uses vector maps so it's not data intensive. You wouldn't use more than 50-100 a month and that's with very heavy usage. I've driven over 1000 miles for a road trip one month and used it for a few hours a day that month and I didn't use a lot of data that way (per onavo app).

 

[SR45]

Garmin USA/Tom Tom/Navigon GPS app does not use data time
Here is one below. But you can find others

NAVIGON (Nice) $44.99 does not need data plan. Resides on phone July 11, 2013 Version 2.5

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/navigon-north-america/id321506742?mt=8

 

[omgwut]

Like someone else said, Apple Maps and I believe Google Maps now both use vector rendered cartography so they only pull down text & numerical data which has a very small bandwidth footprint to build the map images with. The data is just telling the maps what to look like and then they're rendered directly on the phone, whereas the old Google Maps would actually pull down the full street / satellite image tiles themselves directly from the servers, which swallowed up bandwidth. I'll bet you could get lots of maps use out of a cheap 500MB data plan.

 

[Applejuiced]

You didn't say what gps app you're using.
Some don't use any data since they have the maps already pre installed. And other ones pull and use data as they go since they don't have the info offline.
So they longer the trip the more map data you will use. Some apps will pull more data since they will give you more details such as street view pics etc..

 

[Loa]

Thanks for the info.

Sadly, in Quebec, 500MB plans are not exactly cheap!

I'll give those no-data apps a try.

Loa

 

[Zmanbaseball2]

This one looks perfect for your needs:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mapswithme-pro.-offline-maps/id510623322?mt=8

 

[AppleCruncher]

I would say it depends on how much you use it. We tried it for a 2 week vacation and it ate up over a gig in 2 weeks and was spotty. No data or slow data and it didn't work worth a damn. We went back to hauling around the Garmin.

 

[Loa]

Hello,

Yep, that app looks good.

Thanks for the heads up AppleCruncher. Basic plans up here start at 45$ for 150MB...


Loa