Do you pay to use GPS on the Pearl?
 

This video shows a demo for the BB Pearl GPS in synch with the Nokia ld-1w.

YouTube - blackberry pearl GPS with Nokia LD-1W

It looks great, but I'm wondering if anyone knows if you have to pay to use this service?

From what I've seen, it appears that in some cases (depending on what plan you have or device you're using) you'll have to pay to use GPS, but in other cases, you don't.

So how can I get GPS and use it without usage or monthly charges? I was impressed by the video and now I want one.

You have to have a data plan to use the gps function. It is free once you have data. The bbmaps app on the Pearl is free, but there are others that are not free like Wayfinder, Telenav and others.

It does not cost data charges to use the BBmaps?

BBMaps is free. You have to have a data plan to use it.
Oh, and you have to have a gps unit as the Pearl does not have internal gps.

Like the others said, you need a data plan and external GPS puck, and then the interface software. BBMaps is free, and others cost $. See my GPS tips page at my tips site.

I understand the data plan, external GPS puck, BBMaps, but what is this interface software? Did you just mean BBMaps?

What about using googlemaps? Is that free to use as well?

Thanks!

Yes I call it interface because all of the software (Google, BBMaps, Telenav etc) are a GUI for data provided by others (eg Navteq). GUI= graphical user interface.

See my tips page.

GPS itself costs $0.00
 

Just to be clear: GPS itself costs NOTHING. If you have an external Bluetooth GPS receiver you will get your position without paying anything for the usage.

If you want to do anything with your position, e.g. show your location on a map, you need to get the map to your device. All current programs are downloading these map data from the internet. So you need a data plan. As I just wrote in another thread, there is some movement in this field. It seems to be sure that it will be possible to use GPS and maps without a data plan or even without cell coverage.

GPS Tool supporting the Map Image and Waypoint files

I sure hope it will be soon.

Well, with microSD support, that may be possible. Remember, that data isn't small and the phones come with very little memory from the factory

I don't think SPOT will be viable unless the reliability of their mapping goes way up. Now maybe with downloads to the device it will, but I can't tell you how many times I couldn't get a map. They use map data from public sources and so they don't control the servers. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I SEE THEY HAVE UPDATED THE PROGRAM. I will try them again and see if things are improved.