Can You Run A Gps In A Phone That Has No Service?

Price-conscious wireless consumers have figured out that y'all don't demand to pay a hefty monthly data fee to a wireless carrier to still enjoy many of the apps and functionality constitute on smartphones.

Of course, there are limitations to going without a carrier information plan. For example, you can only access the Internet when you are in a Wi-Fi hotspot, which means yous won't become coverage everywhere. And you will likely have to pay full cost for an unlocked device. (You could always buy a cheaper one used or use someone friend'due south or family member's one-time smartphone.) And y'all volition probable have to forgo a carrier'due south voice service, since near U.S. operators require all smartphones to have a data plan.

But volition yous really exist able to use apps like navigation, fifty-fifty when yous don't have a carrier data connection or admission to Wi-Fi? That's the question I respond in Ask Maggie this time. I as well explain why I think information technology will be possible for a Samsung Galaxy S3 user to share information via S Beam with futurity Galaxy S4 users.

Offline GPS Navigation

Dear Maggie,
I would like to know if I tin use GPS navigation on a smartphone without data programme? For example, if I purchase an unlocked Samsung or Nexus Android smartphone, I don't want to buy a data programme. But I would like to use the device in Wi-Fi and for navigation while in my car. Tin I download maps in retentivity to roam more than freely?

Thanks,
Gaurang

Dearest Gaurang,
I've got good news for you. There are several apps available that volition allow you lot to download maps onto your device and use the Wi-Fi and GPS capability on the device for turn-by-turn navigation. And you don't demand a information plan to practise it.

That beingness said, I don't think I would buy an unlocked smartphone for this purpose alone. Yous can get an inexpensive Garmin system for well-nigh $100 on Amazon. But an unlocked new smartphone is going to cost yous anywhere from $300 to $700, depending on the device you buy. What's more some of the navigation apps that allow for offline navigation comparable to a stand-solitary navigation device, will cost you $50 or $60. And if you lot add together more than maps, yous'll have to pay more money.

But if navigation is only one feature y'all plan to utilize on your new unlocked smartphone, then go for it. There are tons of apps that you lot tin download onto a smartphone that volition work but fine with Wi-Fi instead of a carrier's data network.

In fact, I am seeing more than and more people utilise smartphones without data plans. While wireless carriers volition require you to buy a data service programme if you lot connect your smartphone to their network fifty-fifty just for voice services, if you forgo the carrier network birthday, then y'all can just apply Wi-Fi. Of course, this ways you won't have the same type of ubiquitous access as y'all would with a carrier data plan. But information technology's a heck of a lot cheaper.

What apps are out there?
Since you mentioned that you would buy either a Google Nexus device or smartphone for Samsung, I am going to concentrate my answer on Android apps. But in that location are also plenty of apps, even some of these same apps, that are also available for Apple tree iOS. All yous have to do is search the Apple App Shop, Google Play Store, or whatever app store your device has access to in social club to find out what'southward available.

Google Maps is probably the most well known mapping and navigation app out there. Google has updated Google Maps then that it now offers maps offline. This means y'all can download maps and store them on the device and the navigation portion of Google Maps can access the data even when you lot don't accept data access.

NavFree Geolife Ltd.

But at that place are a couple of drawbacks to the offline use of Google Maps. And information technology may not be ideal for a long trip or to use the device every bit an in-car navigation device replacement without a data connection. Fifty-fifty though you can download maps while in a Wi-Fi hotspot to avoid using carrier data, Google only allows you to download maps in certain "map tiles," which means that you tin't download a map for the unabridged U.S. or in some cases an entire state. On a long road trip or if you lot venture outside an surface area where you have a preloaded map, you'll have to stop and download the adjacent slice of the map.

Navfree is another navigation app that is free. And it can be downloaded and used offline. The company that developed NavFree claims that unlike other satellite navigation apps for smartphones, Navfree offers a "fully featured, non-time express turn-by-turn navigation" app. There are no hidden payments for additional map downloads and you're able to apply information technology forever and download free updates when yous need them.

CoPilot GPS is a costless app that also allows you to download maps for an state or region. It as well offers "millions of points of interest." This makes it easy to locate nearby restaurants, hotels, and more than. But if you want voice guided directions, you'll take to upgrade to a more expensive version of the service. Yous can become the U.Southward. map version for $x.

Sygic also works offline by allowing you to download maps offline. Just this app costs money. The company charges unlike rates for downloading dissimilar maps. It's currently offering a xxx percent discount offer for many of its maps. The North American map, which typically sells for $50, is only $35 right at present. The map for Europe, Asia, Africa, and the U.S. is $80 correct now. It typically costs $120.

Navigon

Navigon is a mobile app owned by the satellite navigation and mapping visitor Garmin. Like the other apps listed here, this navigation and map app works offline besides online. It offers turn-by-turn navigation with a vocalism guide. And it includes information on points of interest. It is not a gratis app and will set up you back virtually $40 for the version that includes a U.S. map. If you want European maps or maps for other parts of the earth, y'all will have to pay actress.

I'm not advocating for or endorsing any specific navigation or map app for y'all. If I were yous, I'd cheque out the gratis ones commencement and run into how well they meet your needs. I didn't list every navigation app here. But before you spend the money on any app, I'd read the user reviews and practice a Google search to see what others take said about the app. Too ask your friends nearly the apps they use. And of course, cheque the comments to this story. Hopefully, Inquire Maggie readers tin can chime in with their own suggestions.

I hope this advice was helpful. And good luck!

Will Southward Beam piece of work on the Samsung Galaxy S4?

Dear Maggie,
My partner has the Samsung Galaxy S3. And I am thinking of getting the Samsung Galaxy S4 when it comes out. I was wondering if we will be able to transfer information by touching our phones together, the way I have seen people exercise it on TV between ii Milky way S3s.

Cheers,
Chardin

Dear Chardin,
I can't say for sure which features the Samsung Galaxy S4 volition accept since it hasn't been officially launched yet. Just I have a very good feeling that it volition include NFC or nigh field advice, which is necessary to initiate the touch-based transfer of information. I am also adequately certain that Samsung will include the S Axle functionality in the S4.

Samsung introduced the Due south Axle application with the Samsung Galaxy S3. This awarding builds on the functionality of Android Axle, a feature in the Android software. It allows you to easily share content by putting the backs of the phones together. The connection is initiated through NFC. And and so the information is transferred using W-Fi Directly, a short range Wi-Fi technology that allows for quick data downloads.

Samsung offers a how-to guide that shows you how to use the application.

For more information on the Galaxy S4, check back afterward this week. CNET will be live-blogging the Milky way S4 launch in New York City on Thursday. And we'll have more information and then about all the new features. Too stay tuned to Enquire Maggie later this week, every bit I'll take more advice on whether or not to buy the Samsung Galaxy S4.

I hope this advice was helpful.

Ask Maggie is an advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions. The column now appears twice a week on CNET offering readers a double dosage of Enquire Maggie's communication. If you have a question, I'd love to hear from yous. Please send me an due east-mail at maggie dot reardon at cbs dot com. And please put "Inquire Maggie" in the subject header. You lot can likewise follow me on Facebook on my Ask Maggie page.