Completely Free GPS navigation in China

Have you been to China and feel lost? Or the cabby is driving you round and round to make more money from your pocket?

Now, you can have GPS navigation FREE OF CHARGE to track your location and find the nearest restaurant or hotel. How about GPRS data charges? No worry, the best part of this tutorial is you don't even have to pay GPRS traffic. So what do you need?

You simply need the following:

1. A mobile phone with a GPS hardware (not a-GPS) running S60 3^rd or WM 5.0 or 6.0;
   
2. Your SIM card that can work in China to start up the phone (no roaming required);
   
3. Fully charged battery to navigate longer; and
   
4. Yourself in China.
   

Yes. That's all you need but you must equip your phone with an application and map. Follow the steps below:

1. Download the application (version 4.0 Beta) here to suit your phone from mapabc.com. Choose either Symbian S60 3^rd or Windows Mobile 5.0 or 6.0 edition.
   
2. Install the application (1-2MB) into your mobile phone. Note: A SMS will be sent out to register the software.
   
3. Choose and download the specific map(s) where you will be visiting from HERE and the LARGE SCALE MAP of china. If you still need help in installation, please visit HERE (in Chinese).
   
4. Unzip and copy the maps into the memory card of your phone into the specific folder.
   
5. Run the application and you can now set your routes before you trip.
   
6. When you are in China, enable your GPS in your mobile phone and run the application to lock on your position.

What are the features of this software?

1. Determine your location;
   
2. Locate places of interests like hotels, restaurants, ATMs, shopping centres, banks, parks, car rentals, hospital, clinics etc;
   
3. Obtain descriptions of the places of interests like telephone and detail address;
   
4. Navigate your route via walking, driving and public transport;
   
5. Weather forecast in cities (with GPRS charges);
   
6. Public transport, train and air flight enquiry (with GPRS charges); and
   
7. Real time traffic status (with GPRS charges).
   

With all these information, you will enjoy your trip better and save time and resources hunting for your destinations.

Which GPS software for my mobile phone?

Global Positioning System (GPS) is taking by storm into virtually all new mobile phones. New users may fully pay for their phone but unaware that their new mobile phone has a-GPS or GPS support. Simply, it is a case of ignorance or the constant fear of being charged extra for data traffic. I summarize the differences between GPS and a-GPS in below table.

GPS		A-GPS	Comments	Sample Phone
YES		YES	a-GPS can speed up and lock the location faster (Eg. 5 sec). If a-GPS is disabled, locking the position may take up to 5 mins.	Nokia N97
YES		NO	Older model like N95 need firmware upgrade to include the software a-GPS.	Older Nokia N95
NO		YES	a-GPS requires GPRS traffic and maybe costly	Nokia N81
NO		NO	GPS software is needed	Your old Nokia phone

When they realized that GPS is actually FREE OF CHARGE (FOC) and bear no data traffic, they will start hunting for GPS application suitable for their phone. The common GPS applications are listed below in alphabetical order.

Vendor	Program	Navigation	Data Traffic	Maps	POIs	Guide
Agis NAVFone	$	Free	Optional	$	Yes	Yes
AmAzeGPS	Free	Free	Yes	Free*	No	NA
Garmin Mobile XT	$	Free	Optional	Free	Yes	NA
Google Maps	Free	NA	Yes	Free*	No	NA
Mapking	$	Free	Optional	Free#	Yes	Yes
Nokia Maps	Free	$	Optional	Free	NA	$
Route66	$	Free	Optional	$	No	NA
TomTom NAVIGATOR	$	Free	Optional	$	NA	NA

* - Free maps with BBOM

# - Free maps with S'pore Land Authority

1. Agis NAVFone
   

   This is a local company which can provide unique yellow pages search and public transport route planner. Both program and maps are chargeable but local support is present. It is also the first company to launch postal code search.
   

2. AmAzeGPS
   

   The installation is swift. However, data traffic charges for map download maybe costly because it constantly download the map as you move. You can use tulip navigation to reduce the data charges and generally costs S$0.20 for a city navigation.
   

3. Garmin Mobile XT
   

   The selling point for this program is map can be downloaded from a 3^rd party (malfreemaps.com) where the map for Singapore and Malaysia is updated nearly every week. However, it beeps to warn but regretfully, cannot verbally tell you that there is a speed camera ahead!
   

4. Google Maps
   

   Everything is essentially free if you have broadband on mobile (bbom). It has 2 shortcomings. The first being no POIs customized for Singapore and the second being no real-time navigation.
   

5. MapKing
   

   Mapking claimed to be the number 1 seller in Singapore for GPS products with free download of map from malsingmaps.com (free version updated every quarter). The best selling point is the virtual reality look of the map that make the interface realistic.
   

6. Nokia Maps
   

   Both real-time navigation and guides are chargeable. It is ideal for casual users like tourists. Download of worldwide maps is available which is helpful if you are visiting other countries.
   

7. Route66
   

   Both program and maps are chargeable making it less popular in Singapore. Its market segment is mainly in mainland China and USA.
   

8. TomTom Navigator
   

   Tomtom is strong in Europe and USA but less popular in Asia.
   

So which GPS application should I choose?

1. FOR FREQUENT USERS IN SINGAPORE
   

   Being a frequent user, it is wise to invest in a good software for navigation purposes. My clear choice is Garmin Mobile XT with frequent updated map and Point-of-Interests (POIs). For those with bbom but unwilling to buy the program, you can settle for AmAzeGPS for direction navigation. Else, Google map or Nokia map are good enough for simple location tracking.
   

2. FOR FREQUENT USERS IN MALAYSIA
   

   For those who often drive into Malaysia for good food and cheap petrol, it is wise to equip with professional GPS device for driving navigation instead of depending on your small screen mobile device. You can explore more areas with ease and discover and share more good food locations via forum discussions. You enjoy faster speed in navigation, clearer graphic for viewing and better voice and power integration with your car. Some popular brands are Holux, TiBO and Garmin.
   

3. FOR CASUAL USERS
   

   If you are planning a trip to overseas, it is good to bring along your mobile with GPS and download the latest Nokia map. With the battery fully charged, you can be assured that you will not be lost in the Wonderland.