Hack / Unlock Your Verizon Touch Pro’s GPS Hardware!
By Will Park on Monday, December 22nd, 2008 at 12:42 PM PST In Announcements, Developer, HTC, Hottest Hardware, Tutorial, Verizon, Windows Mobile
Sure, we could just sit back and wait for Verizon Wireless to make good on their promise to unlock the GPS hardware in their high-end smartphone lineup to work outside of the carrier’s VZ Navigator premium navigation service. But, why wait for Verizon (NYSE: VZ) to release a software update when PPCGeeks user IIIboredIII has crafted his own GPS-unlocking software?
Integrated GPS receivers in mobile phones are fast becoming an invaluable feature for socialites and travelers alike. GPS hardware provides highly accurate location information to all manner of mobile applications, potentially changing the way you get around your world. That is, unless your wireless carrier has decided to cripple the GPS hardware.
Verizon Wireless is notorious for locking down the GPS hardware in its handsets to work solely with the VZ Navigator service. The move forces GPS-hopefuls to subscriber to the premium service, generating more revenue for Big Red. The GPS-lock prevents the GPS hardware from being used with mobile applications like Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Maps for Mobile or Windows Live Search.
Verizon HTC Touch Pro users will be happy to hear that they will no longer have to live under Verizon Wireless’s tyrannical rule. With IIIboredIII’s hack, you can free your Verizon Touch Pro’s GPS hardware from VZ Navigator. Here’s how:
- Download the lllboredlll_VZW_GPS_Fix.cab file here
- Save the .cab file to your microSD card
- Install the .cab file by double-clicking on the file - DO NOT RESET
- Use gsfinder or total commander to navigate to \windows\ppst.exe
- Execute ppst.exe with a double-click
- Follow prompts
- Reset/reboot the HTC Touch Pro
- Ensure that location-data is enabled and start using GPS with any application you choose!
[Via: PPCGeeks]
Hey, does this work on my Samsung Omnia?
Yeah, I have an Omnia too and that would be awesome if this worked for it.
Hey all, i just tryed it on my verizon wirless samsung omnia. It installs ok but when you do the fith step it askes to update radio. I do and then it says radio unlock failed. It lockes up your phone but just until you power cycle. No damage to phone but gps still does not work.. Neeed help.. so close…
What is gps finder or total commander.. I did not use thoes i just went into file explorer and found ppst?
David,
I have been approached by your community about unlocking the GPS on the Omnia. The Omnia radio programs thru a differenct sequence than the Touch
Pro. I am presently looking into it and hopefully I will soon be complete. It does have it’s challenges thought. It’s hard to code radio functions
without a device laying right there to try it out on.
Me too on the omnia issue. I would love for this to work. Any idea when or how long it could take to get a fix? And Can I be notified by email when you develop a fix, or should I just check back here…? Thank you so much for your work. We all thank you for your work. You are helping a lot of Omnia users out there.
Thanks I will be looking here and xdadevelopers. for the hack i think it is close.
please email me when you find the result to the locked gps on the Omnia. thx
anything new yet on the Omnia GPS battle?
Any news? I can’t find anything new with Verizon either….
I need this upgrade also,, my sales guy lied to me and said I could use GPS with google maps.
I’m still waiting for the Omnia fix too.. I’ll ship my phone to you to try out the radio codes if it means we’ll get a fix sooner lol
.
Yeah go ahead and ship it to me and I’ll fix it for you.
I have a little mobile fixit and widget shop in Nigeria.
Along with the phone could you please send your mothers maiden name and the last four of your social security number.
Thanking you from me
Nigerian widget boy
Where can I get the files to unlock my XV6900? All the links I find are dead.
I followed the steps for the xv6850 for the GPS to work. I am NOT a tecky person. I am a military person. If you can follow DIRECTIONS you will get your GPS to work on the XV6850. FOLLOW THE FREAKEN DIRECTIONS. AGAIN, THIS ONLY WORKS FOR THE XV6850!!!!! STOP ASKING QUESTIONS IF IT WORKS ON ANOTHER PHONE. IF IT WORKS!!!! YOUR MODEL, THE PUBLISHER WILL TELL YOU! YOU MAY GO BACK TO YOUR EMBROIDERY NOW. Out you civilian pukes!
Does your gps unlock work for the verizon touch pro 2?
I know it just came out.