Don't throw away your....

Meh...nothing new. AT&T / T-Mobile throttling heavy mobile data users. Viewing Youtube can take up a lot of bandwidth, and the guy is an idiot for not realizing so.

I have a 2GB iPhone plan, and a 3GB tablet plan. It is really really hard to even go over 1GB, even though I use my smartphone / tablet all the time, except for media intensive stuff like streaming video.

To go over 2GB, you really have to be watching a lot of streaming video. GPS / navigation, viewing web pages, etc do no use a lot of bandwidth. I travel a lot and use my smartphones for navigation and web browsing, and never even come close to hitting 40% of my data quota.

... if there were no other choices. Just look at their typical "special offers" - there's more fine print than "offer". Too hard to figure out what it'll cost me after the "$xx for the first 3 months" period is over.

What does that have to do with keeping & using stand-alone GPS instead of GPS on a smart phone?

Most of the people here that use their smart phones for GPS use know enough to NOT use a GPS app that needs a data connection to work.

gps have bigger screens and you can use them while making a phone call. plus they are way more reliable then a phone. take it from a delivery driver. cell phones don't have total coverage.

Something to think about.
Thanks

Maybe, but the GPS system in my iPhone has coverage as good as in my Nuvi. I don't need a data plan to use it. The GPS is independent from the cell phone and works while using the phone.

Quite often I will use both my TomTom app on my iPhone in a very nice cradle just below my Nuvi 760 (all maps loaded on iPhone) and the iPhone app shows my location on the roads with less position latency than the Nuvi.

And as far as finding places like restaurants or whatever, the iPhone with it's integrated Google search (also built in POI data base) is much better. JMHO

The screen size is very close to the Garmin iQue 3600 I used for years and was perfectly happy with.

just for making phone calls. Sorry I am from the old school. Don't need all the data all the time or the expense.

I had my first GPS unit about 4 years ago, it died recently so I thought I'll just us my Droid Incredible instead.

It worked pretty well, I liked the fact that the maps where on-line and always up to date. Also search capabilities where more extensive - only limited by the internet.

The downsides:

1. If you get a call when navigating you loose your data connection and ability to navigate (Verizon).

2. Power consumption - I could barely keep the phone charged while it was navigating.

So today I bought a replacement; Garmin Nuvi 1390LMT. Haven't used it yet - sitting in front of TV updating maps and software.

I just supplied the link, I didn't write the story and I didn't have anything to do with AT&T's decision to throttle down folks data speeds. So don't kill the messenger.

I find it ironic that they have been pushing data consumption for several years and now they find that folks are using what they pay for. Who would'a'thunk it! Sprint is the only one advertising unlimited data service now and if they had any customers, they'd be throttling theirs back also.

I like my dedicated unit but it's nice to have the iPhone as a backup...

Use the one you feel comfortable! Keeping up with technology takes time and many people take sweet time to warm up to it!!

once again the consumer gets shafted

Ditch AT&T/T-Mobile. Switch to Simple Mobile (mysimplemobile.com) for all your call/text/3G internet for $40/month or 4G speed internet for $60/month all unlimited and free international text too. Plus straight $40 or $60 monthly no contract no tax no fees.

It's basically using T-mobile signal so you'll coverage wherever T-mobile coverage.

your AT&T phone.

all my working Garmins. Can't make calls and use the GPS at the same time with the smartphone.

Jery, are you a Luddite? C'mon, get with it. How can you live without portal to portal info.

(btw I use a low end Tracfone myself.) ;<)

My wife and I she with 3GS and me 4GS have tried many times to use GPS on the iPhone. The iPhone GPS is complete garbage and maybe it's because we live in Canada and Apple doesn't give a rats ass about Canadians... But since it also never worked on our trips to the US I now think it's just because it's CRAPPLE. I would never compare an iPhone's navigation capabilities to a Garmin or Tom Tom.... Garmin and Tom Tom blow the iPhone right off the face of the earth.

combination devices generally lack features, and I love features - so I just don't see myself wanting to use a phone for things like 1. mp3 player 2. GPS

anything that tries to do everything will be excellent at nothing...kind of like all season tires...JM2CYMMV

Same for me. I never carry my cell phone around, usually stays in my car. Always turned me off when I see people staring at their phone endlessly.

... $300 for the iphone, then:

>> twenty bucks a month for two years (data plan) in order to use GPS function = $480

- or -

>> decent GPSr at Sam's/Costco/Walmart = less than
$200 with NO monthly charges going forward (should last longer than two years), and NO data cap ...

... kind of a no-brainer, if you ask me.

--

it's the dog's fault

@darlbren

I don't know what navigation you were using on your iPhone, but I can tell you my experience is not the same as yours and I've been using Garmin GPSr's since 1998 so I'm no novice.

What navigation app you use on your iPhone has nothing to do with Apple. If you choose to use a poorly designed (free) navigation on your iPhone when there are several very capable navigation apps for the iPhone, don't blame Apple. I currently am using TomTom U.S. & Canada on my iPhone but have also used Garmin North America and they both are as good as my stand alone Nuvi 760 for what they do.

was not planning to throw them, but thanks

I sure can on my iPhone using TomTom.

even remember the last time I used my Zumo. It has been relegated to on motorcycle use only. I certainly wouldn't predict the future of technology on anything AT&T is doing. In a few years bandwidth will be less and less of an issue. For those old enough to remember acoustic couplers... had to program off-line, dial up and connect for computing time that was tracked by the second. LOL.

Give them a break....they're probably texting the person standing next to them.

But I do agree with you and Jery, my phone is for making phone calls.

Not yet anyway

I don't plan on throwing away our GPS. It's a great tool in the car and we don't want to use up the data connection of our iPhone. In fact, we had to use the map app in the iPhone once because the Garmin could not find a destination after trying several different inputs, but the map app on the phone found it in an instant. So, the iPhone will only be used as a back up for GPS functions.

This is a misconception. GPS on your iPhone using an app such as TomTom, Garmin USA or Navigon uses no data. The maps are loaded onto the iPhone.

It is always better to have a back up when a device does not work. I will keep my GPS.

Good luck to all.

I was all set to upgrade to a Nuvi 3xxx series unit, but my wife and I decided we needed to finally get smartphones. The cash that I planned on giving to Garmin went to Apple instead. I've also given up on waiting for a lifetime map subscription to come down to a realistic price so I can add them to my back up Nuvi 260. Garmin and Navteq both didn't get any cash from me...

Even so, I have no plans on retiring my PNDs. Nothing works for me like a large screen stand alone unit loaded up with thousands of POIs.

even if it is somewhat aged being the interstates are all about the same as they were when the GPS units first came out. Easy to get from a to b unless the address you want is a new one.

If I get a call while navigating with my Droid, it tells me I've lost my data connection. So GPS appears to be dependent upon having a data connection and therefore data consumption.

Also, the maps available on my phone include very detailed satellite images, if these were all stored in my phone it would likely explode.

He's sure. Google Navigation requires a data connection. The apps he mentions don't. In the Android world, Navigon and Copilot are two examples of GPS apps that do not require a data connection.

Also, Verizon cannot transmit voice and data at the same time, which is why data drops when you get a call. AT&T doesn't have that issue but its got its own issues.

X2

I can use the cell phone in an emergency or when I don't have the GPSr with me, BUT, for everyday navigation, I still like my Nuvi 660.

It's neat that my 'droid' has a navigation/map app that works pretty well. But again, if you lose the signal or an incoming call comes in, you're out of luck. I don't rely on the "jack of all trades" devices.

I'll keep using my dedicated gps device, thank you very much.

I say this not to debate but to set things straight.

Well, neither of those problems happens on my iPhone on AT&T. I can take calls, make calls and if I choose, can even navigate in Airplane mode using the TomTom USA app. The only thing is that I don't get traffic updates in Airplane mode.

I found this app a few days ago and have been impressed by it. I like my nuvi 205w just fine,but I have been using Waze on my iPhone when traffic is heavy. It depends on other users being connected to determine routing. There seems to be a pretty large community.

Verizon's CDMA network simply isn't designed for and I believe is incapable of simultaneous voice and data. AT&T uses the worldwide standard, GSM, which has had this capability for years. The complaints about dropped data when a call comes in would be gone had Verizon done what AT&T had already done years prior.