Nokia N95 update to bring assisted GPS

Nokia's N95 smartphone will be getting a crucial update that makes its GPS mapping feature more useful, leaked photos show. A new firmware patch being developed by the cellphone maker will introduce assisted GPS that combines the phone's own receiver with cross-checks from an Internet server, helping to locate the device more quickly in regular outdoors use; an average position fix drops from 74 to 57 seconds, according to one report. It can also find the phone indoors where GPS reception is poor or non-existent.

No other major updates appear to be included in the patch, which is still in testing and may change by the time Nokia releases the change to the public. Unlike most assisted GPS systems, the N95 version is not expected to require paid map services from the carrier and will rely primarily on the EDGE, HSDPA, or Wi-Fi connection to achieve the same effect. [via Symbian-Guru]