Help Does using GPS require data?

[romey2000]

Pardon me if this sounds like a dumb question but does using the GPS on my phone require me to use up any data? I'm just curious because a car GPS does not require internet access... can anyone shed some light?

 

[Phenomenological]

http://androidforums.com/htc-desire/125084-desire-faq.html

 

[Cornflake]

Pardon me if this sounds like a dumb question but does using the GPS on my phone require me to use up any data? I'm just curious because a car GPS does not require internet access... can anyone shed some light?

GPS itself just listens to signals from orbiting satellites so no, in that sense nothing is used wrt your data allowance. You don't even need a phone/data connection for straightforward GPS use as you'll know from the operation of a car-based GPS.

But GPS on a phone is often (and optionally) linked directly to Google maps or some other online map service so in that case yes; your data allowance would take a hit as the map for the area around your current GPS location is pulled down.

So "GPS" is completely free but "GPS Navigation" will generally eat into your data allowance - unless you get a navigator using local (ie. stored on the SD card) maps.