BlackBerry® All-in-One For Dummies®

Chapter 6. Knowing What's Around You and Where You Are

In This Chapter

• Getting from point A to point B

• Checking the weather

• Translating words and phrases

Whether you're looking for a restaurant across town or planning a cross-country road trip, tools for the BlackBerry can help you find places to go and directions and information about what to expect when you arrive. You can find everything from ways to plan your trips to a local place for lunch.

BlackBerry smartphones use GPS (global positioning system) technology to give you real-time information about what's around, how far you are from where you want to be, and how to get there. The type of BlackBerry smartphone you have determines what type of GPS is used. If your BlackBerry has a GPS receiver, your device uses satellites to find where you are. (If you are unsure if your BlackBerry is GPS enabled, you can check out the device chart in Book I, Chapter 5 to find out). If your device doesn't have a GPS receiver, it can still use cell triangulation technology to determine where you are. With cell triangulation, your BlackBerry uses three cellular towers to help determine your location. The GPS receiver, however, provides quicker and more accurate results.

Tip

Because BlackBerry smartphones are connected to the Internet 24/7, GPS maps are updated when new streets are built and some even provide real-time traffic info. Depending on the application, turn-by-turn directions via voice or text make sure you never have to look down at a piece ...