Hi

How are the free Nokia maps that you can download from Nokia ?

I was thinking of buying a used Nokia here in the USA so I could use the maps mostly,

I figured it was better + cheaper than a hand held GPS, would have better battery life and I could also use it as a phone,

any idea what model NOKIA to get or not to get ?

Most of the time I will NOT be driving , I will be walking , in a bus , taxi, BTS etc and just want to know where I am so I can get back to that place later, or figure out how to get back to my room ,

thanks for your help

BK

I use them a lot in Bangkok and find them pretty accurate. I have a Nokia E71 and it's free to use the GPS, but if you want to download driving or walking instructions you have to connect ot the Internet.

Mostly I use it when I'm out and about on the bicycle and want to take a short-cut through lesser sois. I can track my course in a taxi no problem.

It's never let me down in Bangkok, but I found the GPS signal unreliable in Penang on a couple of days but another day it guided me back on foot from Tescos all the way back to Georgetown.

It's also useful for marking the location of interesting stalls in Chatuchak Market if you can get a clear view of the sky

Thanks , I am just wondering which is the best , the Nokia or Blackberry ?

I think you need blackberry service to use blackberry maps but am not sure,

I could bring a regular GPS but battery life is only 2 hours on these.

BK

Nokia do 2 types of map. series 1 and symbian 60 compatible. The series 1 address look up is poor but the maps are ok.. the S60 is good for look up and map.. in fact sometimes it's a lot clearer than my Garmin.

When I use a new Nokia with S60 software and view the OVI maps which is built in, it forces me to connect to AIS before able to view the google style map. Is this different than the free maps, I take a one minute look at a map and it is 6 baht.

??

Sounds like the map itself isn't actually installed on your memory card. When you buy the phone, it has the mapping software installed but not the maps themselves. You need to pre-install the map using a PC and the internet, using "nokia map loader" or via ovi store. Once you have done that, the phone doesn't need to connect to download anything.

You also need to download the voice file, for the language that you want, for use during navigation.

Handy tip: the default setting for voice volume is zero, so once you have installed the voice you need to manually set the voioce volume higher. Otherwise you wont hear anything. It catches a lot of people out....

Edited February 23, 201115 yr by JulianLS

Recently Picked up a Nokia E72, used the Nokia Maps while i was down in Phuket, for Navigation to sightsee, Worked like a charm, and free.

Sounds like the map itself isn't actually installed on your memory card. When you buy the phone, it has the mapping software installed but not the maps themselves. You need to pre-install the map using a PC and the internet, using "nokia map loader" or via ovi store. Once you have done that, the phone doesn't need to connect to download anything.

You also need to download the voice file, for the language that you want, for use during navigation.

Handy tip: the default setting for voice volume is zero, so once you have installed the voice you need to manually set the voioce volume higher. Otherwise you wont hear anything. It catches a lot of people out....

I purchased a new Nokia N8. It also is capable of all the above, works great.

Sounds like the map itself isn't actually installed on your memory card. When you buy the phone, it has the mapping software installed but not the maps themselves. You need to pre-install the map using a PC and the internet, using "nokia map loader" or via ovi store. Once you have done that, the phone doesn't need to connect to download anything.

You also need to download the voice file, for the language that you want, for use during navigation.

Handy tip: the default setting for voice volume is zero, so once you have installed the voice you need to manually set the voioce volume higher. Otherwise you wont hear anything. It catches a lot of people out....

I purchased a new Nokia N8. It also is capable of all the above, works great.

I know that I'll ruffle a few feathers but if you ever use a dedicated GPS, you'll realize what a lame system GPS phones are. I have a Nokia smart phone with Nokia maps and a Windows phone with Google maps. Quite frankly, they both suck.

If you want a decent GPS, buy a Garmin with the Thailand ESRI map. Even that map is not perfect but it beats the hell out GPS phones and any of the maps available for phones.

I use OVI maps since 2008 without any problems, right now with E66 - and I am glad to read that it works on N8 also ...

I know that I'll ruffle a few feathers but if you ever use a dedicated GPS, you'll realize what a lame system GPS phones are. I have a Nokia smart phone with Nokia maps and a Windows phone with Google maps. Quite frankly, they both suck.

If you want a decent GPS, buy a Garmin with the Thailand ESRI map. Even that map is not perfect but it beats the hell out GPS phones and any of the maps available for phones.

You are right, but it depends on the usage. For a tourist or someone who just needs the GPS for walking around Sukhumvit and to track his steps back to hotel there is no point of buying GPS unit and maps. I mean why when there is no added value to you to justify purchase of 10K baht GPS system with maps. So for OP phone will do fine and it also can be used as phone. So only one device in your pocket with plenty of battery power.

OP, Nokia is your best option, Navteq maps and real voice navigation. Hands down.

Then again if you drive, Bangkok or elsewhere, there is no match for Garmin stand alone unit with the ESRI maps.

The maps are good but the gps-receiver of the phone useless because long waiting for gps fix and many time interruption.

The maps are good but the gps-receiver of the phone useless because long waiting for gps fix and many time interruption.

Hi Helbob,

Did you update your firmware, as that could be the issue. . .