ATT Restores BB 8820 GPS

AT&T may have backtracked on an apparent decision to cripple GPS in the BlackBerry 8820 under online pressure, according to a new report. Previous sources had accused the American carrier of insisting that Research in Motion deliberately restrict software GPS support in the BlackBerry to favor the iPhone, boosting the Apple phone's marketability but forcing users to pay for monthly TeleNav service to use mapping on the 8820. The discovery of the arbitrary restriction and the subsequent negative press are said to have made AT&T reconsider the decision, however, and the BlackBerry 8820 is now set to allow any compatible software use its GPS service, the report claims.

Multiple sources have claimed that the BlackBerry 8820 will launch on AT&T's network in early September and is most likely due September 4th, immediately following Labor Day. If there are no changes, AT&T may be forced to sell some models with the restricted GPS feature still in effect, as early shipments will have already begun; these systems would have to receive a software upgrade after the fact, the source says.

AT&T has neither confirmed nor denied the reports, making its level of influence unclear. Like most providers, the company frequently chooses to modify or disable certain programs on many phones to promote its own services, but until now has not been accused of disabling one phone's features to promote another. The iPhone is its most heavily-marketed cellphone yet and is known to remain a highly-coveted exclusive for AT&T's network.

By Electronista Staff