Comments on: Apple kills off GPS in Egyptian iPhone 3G

By: Tefa_ManUtd

Tefa_ManUtd — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:29:50 +0000

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By: Maskar

Maskar — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 07:37:42 +0000

Dear Ahmed. I thought of cairo roads and gps the same way you do. Untill i used nokia maps. You’ll be amazed with the accuracy of the road network maps that they provide. I now even find road and street names that was never put on the actual roads i’m not saying that cairo is designed in a good way but i’m saying that nokia maps is way too good in cairo, and might be the only sole provider for such quaility maps of cairo. Sure you should expect some un updated street cross sections or openings.

By: Ahmed Eltawil

Ahmed Eltawil — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:12:08 +0000

The Egyption government is soo messed up. Their president is an unjust immortal douchebag. That being said, GPS wouldn’t work well in Egypt. Their road system…well, there is no system. A tremendous amount of roads won’t be on the map (including major ones). Residents rely on popular shops and scenery around them when it comes to their address (you can’t just say 123 Jefferson Rd, you have to also mention if it’s behind some popular shop, or infront of a ministry etc). GPS on the iPhone or any other device will be completely useless in Egypt (specially Cairo).

By: TareX

TareX — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:33:14 +0000

Totally expected. As soon as I saw that iPhone ad in Cairo, I knew they stripped off GPS.

Another reason why you shouldn’t buy a high-tech phone from an official Egyptian outlet.

By: digital_Sin

digital_Sin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:22:39 +0000

Totoally expected move, It was already well known that the only way for the iPhone to be legally sold in Egypt is that to remove GPS (maps application). It’s retarded I know, But it’s better than nothing.

What’s really strange is that eventhough we don’t allow GPS devices to be sold in Egypt, we have no laws against foreigners brining GPS devices with them when they come to Egypt for personal use (So that they can easily find their way around the country). So if you’re an American with a iPhone 3G with GPS for example, you can bring it in here no problems and use it. I’ve seen tons of imported N95s with GPS working here. That seems really backwards, retarded and funny at the same time. How the hell can foreigners have more privileges inside our own country than legal Egyptian citizens.

Anyways, I’m sure they’ll cave in soon. Pretty soon GPS is going to be standard in all phones (like cameras) and they WILL have to approve them, unless they’re planning on living in a mobile phones stone age.

By: Moro4u

Moro4u — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:48:40 +0000

There’s still hope!
This is what Apple wants us to expect:
From http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2432

GPS is not available while in Egypt or when using an Egyptian iPhone and you may experience the following:
1- An iPhone purchased in Egypt does not have GPS enabled. {In Testing Phase}
2- An iPhone purchased in Egypt that is used outside of Egypt does not have GPS enabled {In Testing Phase}
3- Any iPhone used while roaming in Egypt does not have GPS enabled {Working & Apple will be disappointed, or let us say the OTHERS who doesn’t want us to use it will be really disappointed}
4- An unlocked iPhone used with an Egyptian carrier’s SIM does not have GPS enabled {In Testing Phase}
5- When using Maps in the scenarios above, the blue marker does not appear, and instead a circle is used to show your approximate location and other applications that use Location Services do not provide GPS coordinates

Check this out:
http://igeekle.blogspot.com/

By: Ahmed Ghanem

Ahmed Ghanem — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:43:00 +0000

Well, Nokia’s done the same with the N96, but I’ve unlocked it through changing the phone’s code and updating with the official gulf countries firmware ( to keep the arabic language ) .

In the case of the iPhone 3G, I’ve not found a method yet to un-lock the GPS, I’m not even sure the hardware chip, but if it’s locked through firmware, then I think I must wait for the iPhone Dev Team to provide the software unlock to be able to work with GPS.