Google Mobile Maps Getting Better
It's no secret that I use and like Google Maps for Mobile on my Nokia E61. I have praised the application before and consider it a must have application for the Nokia E61.
However, the application just got better. A whole lot better. The application now provides a new level of interactivity. The application is capable of displaying up to date traffic conditions in about 30 major cities in the US. I hope that number will expand and that support for other countries will follow shortly. But at the present time this is limited to those 30 cities in the US.
The traffic conditions are indicated by color ranging from green (ideal), to yellow (some congestion) and red (heavy traffic).
Another useful feature is the ability to save addresses and routes (direction between two destinations) as favorites. Very handy if you like me are direction impaired. By pressing "*" the application launches the "Favorites" list and addresses can be assigned to the different slots by looking up a location, looking up a business or setting the location manually.
But the best feature in my opinion is that the application will calculate the expected driving time based on current traffic conditions when using the "Directions" feature.
The application is available as an over the air download from google.com/gmm. Select Google Maps for a "high-end phone" and the installation will start.
July 26th, 2006 at 10:44 pm
Unfortunately, the support for non-US countries is lacking at the moment. Hence, it’s been removed from my E61.
July 26th, 2006 at 10:46 pm
Hi,
For some reason, the download seems to fail at the last minute. The installer works up to the point where it asks for all possible confirmations and then a ‘Disconnected!’ message pops up and the installation stops.
This seems to happen with most over the air installations I have attempted. The workaround I have used till now is to get the installation file onto the phone and then installing it. Is there a way to do this for Google Maps also?
Regards,
Ashwin
July 26th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
Hi Ashwin,
That’s strange. It didn’t happen to me. If you go to the installer application does it show up? Can you install it from the installer if it shows up as “not installed”?
I hope it works, it’s a great app made even better.
July 26th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
No it doesn’t show up in the installer app. The same happened even with acrobat reader. Over the air installations just don’t seem to work.
It always launches the installer and even asks for the confirmation “Download and install ‘Google Maps’?” On clicking ‘Yes’ it throws up a Security Warning for an untrusted app. On clicking ‘Continue’ it gives the details of the app including Name, Version etc. On clicking ‘Continue’ it confirms which memory to install the application to. After which it just disconnects.
Regards,
Ashwin
July 27th, 2006 at 12:17 am
Sadly another firm unable to think outside of the ‘the world is the USA’ box.
Shame on you Google. Let us European’s benefit from this app too!
July 27th, 2006 at 5:08 am
Wow. I get traffic info for Columbus, Ohio. Now they just need to hook up GPS info to the map. That would be killer.
July 27th, 2006 at 6:05 am
I don’t know how, but I saw a link to download an E61-native version of Google Maps. The only real difference I could notice was that the app icon was a bit larger, and the menu appeared on the correct side of the screen. Just thought you would like to know! Keep up the good work!
July 27th, 2006 at 6:44 am
I noticed that too. When I first download Google Maps yesterday I got the generic Java version but this morning when I checked again I got the E61 version. The bigger icon is very welcome indeed!
July 27th, 2006 at 6:59 am
Indeed. The E61 is now listed as a supported device.
http://google.com/gmm/devices.html
It was not included last week.
July 27th, 2006 at 11:32 am
Does Google Maps work everywhere?
Not yet. Google Maps is currently available in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US. We’re working to increase its availability as soon as possible.
No luck for the dutch people like me ;-(
July 27th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
I am amazed at the performance of this app on my E70 via T-Mobile USA’s EDGE network. I thought for sure it would be slow as molasses, but it was perfectly usable!
For all you European complainers…I know it sucks, but this functionality was JUST added by Google. Don’t you think the traffic information systems among disparate countries with different languages is a tad harder to implement? Besides, I was dying for Wayfinder to provide USA service for my P900 for well over a year and finally had to give up…although it looks like they offer it now.
July 27th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
Hi , tried re-installing the new version, but cant get it to install. Frist version workied perfectly, Help !!!! great website
July 28th, 2006 at 12:03 am
Ashwin -
I had exactly the same problem with my E61. A reset did the trick. Be sure to back up all your contacts, etc.
July 28th, 2006 at 1:17 am
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but when I downloaded GoogleMaps yesterday it’s still the tiny icon version. I thought it’s supposed to support E61 already?
July 28th, 2006 at 7:22 am
Hi Bernie,
I know it’s cold comfort but I am still stuck using the tiny icon version. Let me know if you get yours to work.
Gordon,
Can you provide any more information regarding what is not working.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
Like other programs on the e61, is it possible to route traffic for this program over wifi instead of the cellular network? I have installed the app on my phone, but it doesn’t seem to be able to connect over wifi to download the ‘terms and agreements’ page when i try and run it…
July 30th, 2006 at 8:17 am
Maybe the new E61-native version is not available in some countries.
When I type http://www.google.com/gmm in the web browser of my E61, I am re-directed to the spanish google site and there, only the generic java version for high end or normal phones is available for my E61.
July 31st, 2006 at 6:18 am
If you’ve downloaded Google Mobile Maps on your mobile, do you perse have to be connected to the internet via WiFi or GPRS (etc.), to use the application, or can you also use it without having to use internet?
July 31st, 2006 at 8:43 am
Hi Tim,
when the application asks for permission to connect just pick your WLAN AP instead of your carrier cellular AP. I have no problems using the application over WLAN.
July 31st, 2006 at 12:59 pm
I just tested Route66 Mobile on my E61 with a bluetooth GPS unit I already had. It works great, very similar to TomTomGo and at a fraction of the price (if you already have the phone).
August 1st, 2006 at 2:51 am
These Google Mobile Maps looks great, but I understand you have to be ‘online’ all the time to view the maps, and satalite maps. Am I correct, or can you also just use the program without being connected to the internet via WiFi or GPRS?
August 1st, 2006 at 5:41 am
Hi Bert V,
I ordered a GPS unit so I am looking forwrd to testing Route66 or wayfinder.
Nic,
that is correct - you need to have some data connectivity in order for the application to work.
August 1st, 2006 at 7:35 am
I’m experiencing the same problem as Ashwin…the download start and when 99kb are downloaded it just doesn’t continue….I can wait a few minutes but nothing happens…all I can do is just click “stop installation”…
August 8th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Dammit Ed, what would I without you man????
September 6th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Just downloaded to my E60 (yes, I’m not in the right place… but most E61 info is relevant to the E60 and there aren’t any E60 specific sites I can find…). Works great. Finally a good app to use in the landscape mode.
Just wondering about the icon. Is there a way to download a specific version manually or is it always selected automatically by Google? Although everything works fine the icon is so small I can’t even tell what it is. Anyone know a way to adjust or download the version with the correct icon?
October 8th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Hi Ashwin (and those who have difficulties installing mobile Google Maps),
I also encountered the “Disconnected” problem everytime I clicked “Continue” on the last step of the installation process. Fortunately, I found a solution to overcome this by changing my E61’s proxy settings. After I’d changed the settings, Google Maps installed and worked flawlessly right away. (I’m using WLAN, by the way, but this should apply to GPRS connection too.)
Go to Menu > Tools > Settings > Connection > Access Points > (click/choose the Access Points you normally use) > Options > Advanced Settings
Remove any values and change the port number from 80 to 0 in the “Proxy serv. address” and “Proxy port number”, respectively. Don’t forget to record any information before changing them just in case you’ll need them in the future.
For those who were wondering whether there is native E61 version of Google Maps, I noticed that when I went to google.com/gmm using the phones Web browser, it displayed “Google Maps may not work on your phone. If you’d still like to try, download Google Maps for a high-end phone or a …..” However, when I tried going to google.com/gmm using the phone’s “Services” browser under Menu > Media, it displayed “Download Google Maps for the Nokia E61.” I picked the latter one and installation went on with no problem. I also got the larger Google Maps application icon after installing it from the “Services” browser.
Just thought I might share these with you all.
Cheers!!
November 2nd, 2006 at 11:02 am
[...] I have to admit that Google has done it again. [...]
November 2nd, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Can someone tell me how to stop the E62 from continuously asking if it can connect to the web for google maps and widsets, I am sure there is a setting somewhere
November 2nd, 2006 at 4:16 pm
Dave -
I have yet to find out myself but from my research it appears its an inherent issue with the Cingular E62 and J2ME applications. Im not sure if anyone is working on fixing it but lets hope that they are
November 21st, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Anyone figure out this Cingular issue? What an inconvenience. I can’t wait until someone smarter than me creates a work-around
December 10th, 2006 at 8:12 am
i will try to use it mate
December 10th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
v. 1.04 is out now
December 14th, 2006 at 1:02 am
Having the same problem with the blackjack (asking over and over again if it can connect to the internet). Also encountered it with the SLVR L7
December 29th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
Same issue here with Cingular on a Blackjack. Would very much like to use this app but can’t very well at all due to continuous “Use Network” pop ups. Any solutions out there?
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
These maps are great but I have the same question the last few have. How do I make it stop asking me if it can access the internet. Must be a setting?
January 3rd, 2007 at 8:13 pm
wow! do you live in south bay?
January 3rd, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Hi Alex, Michael & James,
It’s a limitation of the Java client (that it needs to ask for permission each time it needs to access the network). A native Symbian client can ask once and then have access to the network as needed without asking for permission.
Hi Joe,
I live in San Francisco but spend a lot of time all over the Bay.
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:18 am
I live in Spain and have a Movistar E61. I had the same problem, the E61 would donwload the file but not install it. The problem was resolved by accessing the http://www.google.com/gmm choosing an access point called “Movistar Java” instead of the usual acces point “Movistar Internet”. The install was succesful.
February 26th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
does anyone out there know about the “always allow” issue? Gmaps always asks for permission to access the network… cingular and nokia swear that it is a Google issue… any clues?
March 14th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
As for the “always allow” issue with Google maps and the E61/E62. I believe it is an issue with Symbian S60 3rd edition. The application is not signed, so 3rd edition places restrictions on it. It is both Google and Nokia’s fault. Google’s for not signing their application, and Nokia/Symbian’s for placing this restriction in the first place.
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:24 am
I tried installing Google Maps onto my Nokia E50 and it says “Not Installed!” Can anyone help?
May 22nd, 2007 at 4:19 am
Google Maps working for E60 and support here in Australia too! There’s no link on the Google website, but the mobile version at http://www.google.com/gmm will give you the option for Symbian OS. Working fine on my E60!
May 30th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
I have to admit that the “always allow” issue is the phones biggest shortcoming, well the smooshy keys are a bit of an annoyance… I think the iPhone is my solution, but knowing my luck i’m sure it’ll me bugged up too. Lol…. Sigh.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:16 am
Hi will this work on Pocket Pc Win 2005
regards Tony in Australia
June 19th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
I had the ‘disconnected’ problem as well with three in australia. just kept trying the different ‘connection points’ until one worked!
August 14th, 2007 at 8:29 am
I got GMM installed in my E62 and working just fine,in India..only glitch..no gps support for nokia phones…
October 13th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Google has just released a new version (1.70.2) of Google Maps for S60 3rd ed phones. No more asking for permission on each map move! Read my E62 installation report on Cingular’s forum: http://forums.cingular.com/cng/board/message?board.id=nokia&thread.id=47662