not sure - my phone uses cell towers to simulate gps, like with google latitude. - Mike Nencetti

No. It doesn't use the data connection. It talks to satellites. - Rodfather

You shouldn't be charged for accessing GPS - if I'm correct, all a gps-enabled phone does is receive continually broadcast radio signals from the geopositioning satellites. It'd be like being charged for receiving FM radio. Please correct me if I misunderstand the premise. - Slappy Line

Accessing the GPS system is not charged, but, downloading any map images is against your data plan. - MVB (Grinch of FF)

It actually depends on the phone and the carrier how it works, and has changed over time. GPS chips don't actually talk to satellites. They triangulate between them (signals are broadcast from satellite and it doesn't have any knowledge of the individual phone), but sometimes the phone uses the data network to transfer the raw location information to a server for processing. Also, many phones have what's called assisted-GPS, which uses tables downloaded from a server to speed up acquiring a signal from satellites for a particular cell location. Whether any carriers currently charge for this, I'm not really sure. But my impression is that they don't (except for any data network usage required for pre/post processing). - Cristo

Most smart phones have A-GPS these days. It uses the data connection, but you're not charged to specifically receive GPS information. I'm not sure what would happen in the case you don't have a data plan but do have A-GPS on your phone. I assume it would fall back to using the GPS chip which would just take a bit longer to lock down your location. - Rodfather

Depends on the GPS software. Sprint charged a monthly fee for their service that updates the local software on the phone and pulls from their servers. Google Maps is free but it pulls from the internet all the information you need. The main cost right now for any GPS system is the MAP fee (there are only two companies in the world ((Three if you count google, but they buy the satellite maps from other companies)) that make maps for GPS's) and the cost of POI's Points of Interests which are updated by different companies (Googles pulls from their search engine data). The differences from there is the program that makes the routes from one location to another. The GPS ability is just a chip in the device that any software can typically use. - CW™

GPS Navigation software usually does cost extra but it depends on your carrier and plan. I'm using the Everything Data plan and Sprint Nav comes with it. It pulls maps using the data connection and does the whole turn-by-turn and voice directions. Some navigation software costs a flat fee and all the maps are stored locally, so you don't need a data connection. - Rodfather

Good input, thanks. I knew the actual maps require a paid data connection, I just wasn't sure about the GPS. Was wondering if you had an app that let you locally cache maps for an area or destination if you'd be charged for accessing the GPS signal to pinpoint your location. - Kevin Pedraja

No you won't be charged. For example.. I bought navigation software for Windows years back. I can still use it with a bluetooth GPS receiver. The maps just aren't updated. - Rodfather

My Verizon VX6800 has a GPS chip. It requires nothing other than a server download, so no tower-based triangulation or anything. However, Verizon thinks that I should be forced to purchase (And pay every month) for their VZW Navigator software if I want GPS. So instead of using the standard Windows protocol for GPS that Google Maps and every other application available for Windows Mobile speaks.. they've got their own secret hidden protocol. - Wirehead

There was a hack that I installed that made it speak standard GPS. They broke the hack. So, clearly, at least Verizon thinks that you should pay for GPS data, even though I disagree. And I don't even use features of Google Maps that the VZW navigator has. - Wirehead

I think depends on the plan. I'm with Sprint and Sprint Navigation has always been included in my plans. But I'm sure with some of their phones, there's a charge. - Admiral Anika

People seem to not be able to make a distinction here. No carrier charges you to use your hand-held device to receive data from the GPS satellites. Most, if not all carriers will charge you to down load the images such as maps to use with the GPS information. - MVB (Grinch of FF)

Mark, some carriers used to charge 3rd party developers for every GPS transaction. That's why I said it varies, although I will admit to not having current intel. This was for the case of assisted GPS, because obviously you can have a standalone GPS device not connected to the network. But those are pretty slow (40 seconds) to lock on the satellites needed for a location. - Cristo