Does GPS In a mobile phone still work even though there is no internet access
We have noticed In certain apps that uses GPS, that even though there is no internet access, the GPS seems to work. We come to this conclusion because the pointer keeps moving. If this is the case, how does the cell gets it's data?
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Did you not read that I said TomTom and Garmin devices were popular LONG before mobile internet was on the scene? How did those work? Memory. Either internal or with an SD card. Put the map on it, and you can drive where ever you want as long as it's on the map you installed. Same still applies for car units these days (though some are still extended with mobile internet for either updating maps, or traffic information).
In the olden times, you usually had enough memory for one small country, or if you were in a bigger country, you needed to carry several memory cards (swap cards when you reached the "border"). Of course, these days it's not an issue anymore.
In the olden times, you usually had enough memory for one small country, or if you were in a bigger country, you needed to carry several memory cards (swap cards when you reached the "border"). Of course, these days it's not an issue anymore.
Furthering what Kimputer said, I actually had (still have, actually) an earlier unit that has an actual hard drive in it, which was required at the time in order to carry map data for the entire United States. This was a while ago, and if I remember correctly, the size of that hard drive is only around 20MB (yes, MEGA bytes, not gigabytes). Memory now is so cheap that stand-alone GPS units all contain more than enough memory to store map data for at least the entire continential US. The catch with those devices is that every once in a while you need to take the thing out of your car, hook it up to a PC, and download new map data when the manufacturer releases an update.
Getting back to today and your present question, our modern phones have a great deal of memory and storage. GPS doesn't require internet. It will still be able to update and you will see your location changing even if you do not have a data connection to the internet. And, if really what you are asking is why you are still seeing the map (which is quite a different question) even though you no longer have a data connection to the internet, the likely answer is that the map program either downloaded enough of a surrounding area into memory, or the program already has a basic level of map data included to fall back on when there is no internet connection.
Hope that helps!
Getting back to today and your present question, our modern phones have a great deal of memory and storage. GPS doesn't require internet. It will still be able to update and you will see your location changing even if you do not have a data connection to the internet. And, if really what you are asking is why you are still seeing the map (which is quite a different question) even though you no longer have a data connection to the internet, the likely answer is that the map program either downloaded enough of a surrounding area into memory, or the program already has a basic level of map data included to fall back on when there is no internet connection.
Hope that helps!
ASKER
Thanx all, greats answers!
ASKER
Last question, if no internet needed for GPS to work, how do the GPS units in car rentals display maps if there is no internet access? Does unit downloads or is it pre-installed to that specific location of the car rentals (is the client will be only in that area)?