November 28, 2007

Google Maps for Mobile Shows Your Location

The latest version of Google Maps for mobile phones has a new feature called "my location". Instead of having to enter your location, Google Maps is able to find it. If your phone has GPS support the location detection should be very good, but even if there's no GPS, Google Maps can approximate your location. "The My Location feature takes information broadcast from mobile towers near you to approximate your current location on the map - it's not GPS, but it comes pretty close (approximately 1000m close, on average)." To find your location on the map, just press 0 and look for a blue dot.

Google says that this feature should work on most "Java, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Nokia/Symbian devices", but it doesn't work in Sony Ericsson K750i, so this claim is questionable.

To get the new version (2.0), go to http://google.com/gmm on your mobile device. It's still in beta, so don't expect it to be flawless.



Update:
At this time, My Location (beta) is available for these devices:

* BlackBerry devices
* Some recent Motorola devices
* Some recent Sony Ericsson devices
* Many Windows Mobile devices
* Nokia Series 60 3rd Edition devices

If you have a Java-enabled (J2ME) device, BlackBerry or Windows Mobile device, you can easily check whether or not My Location (beta) is available. Just to go "Help" > "About" from the application. If the box contains "myl: N/A," it means your device isn't reporting a cell.
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74 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 8:05 AM

    In which countries does it work?

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownNovember 28, 2007 at 8:36 AM

    All of them. Also, this has been on there for months o.o

    ReplyDelete
  3. Noah ParsonsNovember 28, 2007 at 9:15 AM

    What about the good old iphone? The iphone would be that much better with GPS or even a close approximation for location in the google maps application.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 9:17 AM

    Just tried it on my Sprint HTC Touch, sitting in Mountain View - "Your current location is temporarily unavailable." bummer.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alex ChituNovember 28, 2007 at 10:33 AM

    @David:
    I don't use Google Maps for mobile, but the feature seems to be new. The application had GPS support for a small number of phones (like Nokia N95) in the previous versions.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 11:18 AM

    Yep, what about the iphone? the integrated google maps on iphone doesnt seem to have it and you can't download the maps application from google.com/gmm.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 11:43 AM

    I'm getting the "Your current location is temporarily unavailable" message also.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Brian and LoreleiNovember 28, 2007 at 11:49 AM

    I'm in Washington, DC with an SGH-i607 Blackjack. I'm also getting the error "Your current location is temporarily unavailable".

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 12:13 PM

    I am in Lake Forest, CA. I just installed the new application and it said "Your current location is temporarily unavailable". :(

    I noticed they have some new features on the map.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 12:19 PM

    I tried it out today, and it worked fairly well but there was a HUGE degree of uncertainty. Well over 1700 meters in the multiple cases I tried.

    You can tell it's located the tower I'm linked too. If I was completely lost in a town I'd never been to, this might be helpful for finding my start point, but given how inaccurate it is not sure how useful it will be.

    I'll give you an example, I'm on 7th street right now and it's showing me on 11th street (and four blocks up) which I happen to know is where the nearest tower to me is.

    I'm in Columbus, OH, USA

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 12:49 PM

    I think this is wonderful. The goverment has used this technology for atleast two decades by now if not longer. Soon I can pinpoint my wifes location all the time! SWEET!

    ReplyDelete
  12. TomNovember 28, 2007 at 12:51 PM

    What about my iPhone!!!! :(

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 1:24 PM

    if you are getting location not available, check to see if your gps feature is turned on.

    interesting that the gps isn't pulled straight from the phone. that is what "the government" uses in most cases now for E911 phase 2.

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 1:28 PM

    I just tried this in Erie, PA. It shows the location, but is about 5 miles off. I enabled GPS and still got the same result. At least it's in the right county, but I can't say much more for it than that.

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 1:29 PM

    Innovation makes Google rank high that's for sure.
    p.s. Abia acum am descoperit blogul tau, spor la treabã in continuare.

    ReplyDelete
  16. NickNovember 28, 2007 at 1:34 PM

    It would be nice if some sort of GPS detection could be added to 1800-GOOG-411 so that I could search for businesses close to me instead of narrowing it down to a whole city or area code. Then again, as soon as they would do that, I'd want it to guide me there via vocalized directions as well...it's always something.

    ReplyDelete
  17. KennyNovember 28, 2007 at 1:52 PM

    i'm in NYC (astoria, queens) and also getting the "Your current location is temporarily unavailable" message as well. Using windows mobile on an XV6700, for what it's worth. I'm getting maximum signal strength verizon EVDO, kind of a bummer. Judging from everyone else's similar comments it sounds like Google still has some work to do, but an awesome concept.

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 2:51 PM

    I personally think it is very intersting. I had never heard of that before ( but of course i've been living out of the country for 2 years!)And to all those negative people, anything could always be better

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 2:52 PM

    I'm getting the "Your current location is temporarily unavailable" message also.

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 3:22 PM

    K750i is not a Symbian phone, at least not where I'm at so...
    /magnus, sweden

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 3:51 PM

    Works great on blackberry device in Huntington Beach, CA.

    Was a few streets of but better then the Verizon disabled GPS in the phone.

    ReplyDelete
  22. lonstarNovember 28, 2007 at 4:32 PM

    downloaded from that link but got 1.2, not 2.0. Limited beta?

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 7:45 PM

    I'm getting the "Your current location is temporarily unavailable" message also.

    Treo 700w Verizon.

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousNovember 28, 2007 at 8:10 PM

    Does anyone know if and when will the Treo 700w be supported. Hopefully its sooner than later (or never).

    ReplyDelete
  25. UnknownNovember 29, 2007 at 12:37 AM

    I have Sony Ericsson K810i Cyber-shot phone. Today i downloaded new Beta soft. from Google by pointing my phone's Net-Front Browser to maps.google.com

    after downloading, it took a while to load ( blue bar... ). Later it showed me "Your current location is temporarily unavailable".

    I didn't closed Google Maps software. I started searching the web by typing the above generated error in Google Web Search on my PC.

    Roughly in 5 or say 10 minutes when i checked my phone, I got my approximate location within 1700 metres. So It definitely works.

    Do one thing ; Go to Menu->Help->About/info-> Scroll Down to the last line. You will see just like that :-

    404:59:some numbers:some numbers

    Here 404 means India
    and 59 stands for CellOne Rajasthan.

    This is a network code.

    If that type of thing appears then wait for sometimes as your software might be in processing stage.

    This is a useful thing. Thanks a millions to Google. Though in Beta stage it's not pinpointed like Good SONY GPS devices but at least when you are travelling via bus or Train then say at midnight while you get up from your birth then you can get some info about your current location. It's cool. The other way to get info is to use Cell Information feature in your phone. For Sony Ericsson phones, go to MESSAGING->SETTINGS->AREA INFO->CELL INFORMATION->ON

    in standby screen you'll see the name of place as a second line after Network name. ( Provided your operator supports. )

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  26. samoletNovember 29, 2007 at 4:44 AM

    Аналогичная хуйня, только в Москве и на Nokia E61: "Ваше текущее местоположение временно недоступно".

    ReplyDelete
  27. Abhishek NagNovember 29, 2007 at 5:37 AM

    does not work on my Sony Ericsson P1i. this is a Symbian UIQ3 phone.

    ReplyDelete
  28. UnknownNovember 29, 2007 at 7:16 AM

    My Sprint Treo 700p didn't download the new version (2.0). It says it is going to but then links to the 1.2.6 file.

    ReplyDelete
  29. TimNovember 29, 2007 at 7:45 AM

    It's amazingly close on my HTC Touch in Central London. Wrong side of the road but probably correct to within 20 feet!

    ReplyDelete
  30. IlijaNovember 29, 2007 at 5:39 PM

    It isn't working on my Sprint Touch. It seems that my phone is not registering the cell tower that it is currently connected to. (at least according to the google maps help).

    You can check this by going to Help > About (scroll down to the last line of text) if it list something like myl:N/A it means that you are not registering your cell tower.

    Does anyone know how to turn this on? I hope it's a WM6 thing not something related to the Sprint service...

    ReplyDelete
  31. IlijaNovember 29, 2007 at 5:40 PM

    P.S. iPhone update is coming. Not yet available though.

    ReplyDelete
  32. UnknownNovember 29, 2007 at 9:34 PM

    This is possible that you and your friend that are on different networks and at same place are getting different results. Let's take an example of Google Earth. A few years ago when it was launched; it didn't have place name of each and every location compared to today and even still it's getting finer each day. If you are a member of Google Earth community then you can contribute by sharing the names of those places that you know. The same thing applies here at GMM. Google didn't say but it need volunteers. Here the information is mobile carrier specific. That means On the same place ATT tower might be registered to GMM MyL but it's not necessary that Vodafone's tower is also registered in MyL database of Google.

    As i said earlier Google needs volunteers that means only those people who have GPS Handsets with GMM Running or Handsets which are attached to GPS Accessories like Sony Ericsson HGE 100 or any Bluetooth GPS Accessory and GMM software ON can help Google to enriched it's database of Mobile towers.

    Now again let's move back to the problem when 2 people on different networks are at same place. If a first person gets the approximate location information on GMM that means that some times ago a person who has GPS Phone or Phone with GPS Accessory had passed to that location while GMM was running so GMM has sent the information of that Tower and saved into the database.

    So, if you have a phone that can work with GPS and you want that your area or village gets fully covered on GMM so that other citizens or tourists who doesn't have GPS Phone can take an advantage of it; then you have volunteer for it. If there is a vacation or weekend then just attach GPS accessory or start in-built GPS and on the meantime start GMM. Now just roam around your favourite places. Next time when anyone without GPS functionality will use GMM; he will not receive error messages like "location temporary available" and at the end of the day you will feel content that you did something for your area or locality and now it is fully covered under your favourite mobile carrier/ Operator.

    If this method is getting costly to you then do one thing, start Cell Information on your phone. Now if you see a new location name on screen then just start your GPS and GMM and Google will register it. Now exit the software. Again if you come to that place where different location name is showing then do the same thing. Thus your favourite area will get 100% covered.

    In short, if more people with GPS use this service in different areas the more it will get enrich.

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousNovember 30, 2007 at 2:03 AM

    Satya,
    I see you know a lot about gmm. May be you'll give me an answer to the following question: Is it required to use GPRS to be a volunteer you mention? I tried to use GPS and WiFi on my smartphone and roamed around my home abot 1 hour (GSM module was on ofcourse) Then I tried to find my location without GPS. Result: "Your current location is temporarily unavailable". May be it's required some time to update towers information on google servers. How long it will update this information?

    ReplyDelete
  34. egilchriNovember 30, 2007 at 6:31 AM

    I have a Sanyo SCP-7050. It's got GPS capability but I don't subscribe to that service. Rather, I use WHERE.

    When I try to launch Google Maps 2.0, which I downloaded and installed, it trys to load, but then immediately throws me back to the applications launch screen.

    I guess this means loading aborted? Is there any way I can learn more?

    ReplyDelete
  35. UnknownNovember 30, 2007 at 7:10 AM

    Dear Artur,

    First of all thanks for the message. I am glad. Well...i am just like you...an enthusiast about Mobile technologies so i may be wrong but i believe yes you might need GPRS/ EDGE/ 3G/ 3.5G connection to send your tower info to Google Database. OK let's do an experiment. If you have a facility know as "FLIGHT MODE" in your mobile or if you can start your phone without SIM card then try to establish your phone's GPS + WiFi + GMM. Does GMM still working ? It might show you GPS Info but MyL won't be present. Now Insert SIM card and use GMM+GPS through WiFi. Check at upper corner about how much data is being transferred. Is it 0 ( zero ) ? in that case you might be seeing those maps which GMM has fetched from Cache memory. If this is not the case and data is being transferred that means GMM is dependent on Wi-Fi connection which doesn't have any give or take relationship with your existing GSM Network. In GMM go to HELP->ABOUT->SCROLL DOWN....can you see the unique cell-id of the tower? Might be Yes.

    well in my point of view and as far as i have learnt through GMM Video and different forums; For MyL database, Google can only enjoy that connection which relates to GSM technology like GPRS. As; when you connect to Internet without wifi through GPRS; your GSM Connection gets actively involved. The software is totally based on GSM technology.

    This is possible that my views are wrong. I guess only Google can answer this.

    I read that you roam for one hour. Well it depends how far area you've covered in 1 hour because Base stations foot print can be as far as 1700 metres or more. I advice you to activate the Cell Broadcast so that you know about the area otherwise a person who has covered more than 1 kilometres in one hour on foot can still be under one base station footprint so there won't be any change. Cell Broadcast comes handy at this situation.

    It's also possible that GMM utilise info sent by wi-fi network and it might take some time say 2 days for updating.

    These answers can only be achieved by experiments. if you have subscribed GPRS then i guess you should try the other channel then wi-fi. Who knows...the info gets updated instantly.

    YOu can visit my blog to know my contact info. etc.

    ReplyDelete
  36. AnonymousNovember 30, 2007 at 10:51 AM

    In Tulsa, Ok on a MotoQ, it says "Your current location is temporarily unavailable". Sprint is my provider.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Andreas H. LundeNovember 30, 2007 at 11:19 AM

    Nokia N95 /w GPS 10 meter accuracy down town Oslo at best. 100 meters in screeenshot ==>

    http://andreaslunde.com/gps-virker-med-google-maps-mobile/

    ReplyDelete
  38. AnonymousNovember 30, 2007 at 2:27 PM

    As with most users my Treo 700w gives me the Temporarily unavailable.

    ReplyDelete
  39. AnonymousNovember 30, 2007 at 4:23 PM

    'Temporarily unavailable' on HTC Trinity.

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousNovember 30, 2007 at 11:03 PM

    NEEDS TO WORK ON SPRINT PLEASE.

    ReplyDelete
  41. AnonymousDecember 1, 2007 at 3:07 PM

    On my blackjack with AT&T in Sarasota FL I also get "Your current location is temporarily unavailable."

    ReplyDelete
  42. AnonymousDecember 3, 2007 at 6:51 AM

    Working great on my K800i.
    I'm in Moscow/Russia.
    Mobile provider: MTS

    ReplyDelete
  43. AnonymousDecember 3, 2007 at 1:57 PM

    Doesn't work with T-Mobil Dash in Hawaii. I get the following message: "Your current location is unavailable."

    ReplyDelete
  44. AnonymousDecember 3, 2007 at 11:00 PM

    I have a AT&T (Cingular) 8525. I get the "Your current location is temporarily unavailable." In the Milwaukee area. In the help/about, it does list info for myl: 310:41030998:1152
    It lists my platform as winm-pocketPC-Herm100/Web [en_US,en].

    Can this info tell me where I am?
    Is there some way to enable my location to work. It obviously is passing along some tower info.

    ReplyDelete
  45. AnonymousDecember 4, 2007 at 2:34 PM

    I have noticed the myl for my Sprint Moto Q is "myl N/A". Sprint doesn't want to share...boo that

    ReplyDelete
  46. AnonymousDecember 6, 2007 at 12:48 AM

    Using a Moto Q in LA with Sprint - getting the "Your locaton is temporarily unavailable" message also. What's the deal?

    ReplyDelete
  47. AnonymousDecember 6, 2007 at 6:48 AM

    I tried it with my O2 XDA mini. IT gives the same message like many others Your current location is temporarily unavailable. in the help -- about the myl :N/A. my OS is windows 2003. Is there a way out?
    Other guys around me using smart phones are getting the location.

    ReplyDelete
  48. RonaldDecember 12, 2007 at 4:35 PM

    I think that google let this one out of the bag way too soon. I have seen more post (like mine) where all you get is a message saying your location is temporarily unavailable. I hope it works, but I miss the "Find Location" feature where I could just key in a zip code and at least center the map

    ReplyDelete
  49. AnonymousDecember 13, 2007 at 6:12 AM

    I figured out how to fix the unavailable issue on my Blackberry 8700... Go to help, then click my location (beta) and disable . Then restart GMM. Reenable and restart. That worked for me.
    Seth

    ReplyDelete
  50. AnonymousDecember 14, 2007 at 3:02 PM

    SPRINT PPC6700 gets "location unavailable". does anybody know how to put a default address so that it doesn't go back to San Francisco as a default all the time?

    ReplyDelete
  51. AnonymousDecember 17, 2007 at 7:09 AM

    I use a motorola V3 and get the temporarily unavailable messsage. My phone is reporting a cell so I can only assume that googles database of cell positions is incomplete in my area. Hope they fill the gaps soon.

    ReplyDelete
  52. AnonymousDecember 17, 2007 at 3:36 PM

    Its Great; very good approximation!
    I live in Lanus - Buenos Aires - Argentina.

    ReplyDelete
  53. paddDecember 19, 2007 at 5:37 AM

    works a treat on my new HTC TyTnII through orange UK using it's built in GPS :)

    ReplyDelete
  54. AnonymousDecember 24, 2007 at 6:55 PM

    Working suberbly all over I hover in BRAZIL.

    ReplyDelete
  55. AnonymousDecember 25, 2007 at 3:11 PM

    Will somebody answer the questions about sprint windows mobile devices. Is there anything you can do when the Help> about screen shows the myl: N/A. Does this mean Google is making it not available, Sprint, or a setting on the device. What about some talk about switching to the Edge band with a program called Bandswitch will this work ith a spring 6800 (Mogul)? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  56. UnknownDecember 28, 2007 at 12:53 PM

    AT&T 8525 HTC. It worked well with Windows Mobile 5 but since I upgraded to Windows Mobile 6 I keep getting "current location unavailable" so maybe new os not supported yet?

    ReplyDelete
  57. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2008 at 9:24 PM

    For windows mobile 6 users, please try the following recommendation,
    start -> settings -> Phone -> more
    1)check the enable broadcast channels
    2) under settings button, check the receive channel list

    This works on my WM6

    ReplyDelete
  58. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2008 at 8:17 AM

    Seth's fix: Disabling 'My Location', exiting GMM then re-enabling 'My Location' instantly fixed the problem of "Location Temporarily Unavailable" on my AT&T Blackjack II.

    ReplyDelete
  59. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2008 at 5:13 PM

    It works...very well, in Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  60. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2008 at 11:26 AM

    Also getting the "Your current location is temporarily unavailable" message. The previous suggestion about enabling broadcast channels didn't help. Using T-Mobile Shadow (WM 6) in Minneapolis, MN.

    ReplyDelete
  61. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2008 at 10:46 AM

    no go on my verizon xv6800...

    bummer.

    the guy with the iphone in the cubicle next me keeps rubbing it in that his works...

    ReplyDelete
  62. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2008 at 7:32 AM

    Receive braodcasts didn't work for me, nieither did disable/enable My Location. :-(

    WM6 on Herm100

    ReplyDelete
  63. chicago1February 16, 2008 at 8:40 AM

    can anyone please help I have the sanyo katana google maps but cannot semm to open myl.it says myl is not availible on this device I have GPS enabled phone.THANKS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  64. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2008 at 11:59 AM

    I just got it on the E51 Nokia and it works a treat In Ireland ! G

    ReplyDelete
  65. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2008 at 2:35 PM

    From the above, it looks like the Verizon/Audiovox XV6700 doesn't work (unless you pay Verizon $20/mo to activate the feature). I'm guessing it should work w/ the addition of a "HOLUX 236" for <$50 on ebay, Google maps should work.

    I want to use this for hiking. Is there any "bread crumbs" functionality in Google maps?

    ReplyDelete
  66. AnonymousMarch 4, 2008 at 2:47 PM

    This feature does not work in 3G mode on a ATT Phone. You have to force to EVDO mode for this to work.

    ReplyDelete
  67. AnonymousMarch 9, 2008 at 1:05 PM

    God, if i here one more Iphone loser whining about software and compatibility, im going to scream. You bought it, you deal with it. You just had to be trendy without doing the research and now your stuck. enjoy your EDGE network and 0 functionality.

    ReplyDelete
  68. AnonymousMarch 12, 2008 at 1:33 PM

    I have HTC Touch (Sprint) and google my location does not work. I think Sprint does not want to support this service. Is this service working for anyone using Spring network?

    ReplyDelete
  69. anoopMarch 13, 2008 at 7:27 AM

    I tried with my HTC Touch here in Bangalore,India and it worked for me(no GPS).In fact while travelling in the car the My location dot keeps refreshing to my new location ever few minutes

    ReplyDelete
  70. AnonymousMarch 22, 2008 at 6:39 AM

    Hi,
    Here is a question that does not seem to have been asked.

    I have a Dell Inspiron 1720 Laptop with a express card that takes my Vodafone sim (data) card.

    I can connect to the WWW, send and recieve sms files easily.

    Can I somehow use googlemaps, and can I also use the locator feature ?

    Thanks.
    Mike

    ReplyDelete
  71. AnonymousApril 3, 2008 at 3:02 PM

    My location not supported on Samsung SCH-i760

    ReplyDelete
  72. AnonymousApril 13, 2008 at 6:08 PM

    shypassion
    buffalo NY
    htc touch
    sprint
    message:
    your handset is not compatible with myl beta

    ReplyDelete
  73. AnonymousJune 14, 2008 at 8:57 PM

    I have a Palm Treo - with T-Mobile, it worked perfectly in Amsterdam - and in New Delhi - but it seems to have issues here in the States, it will show where i was about 5 to 7 hours prior. Otherwise it works -

    ReplyDelete
  74. AnonymousJune 23, 2008 at 6:19 AM

    Doesn't work on HTC S710

    ReplyDelete

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