Gobi 1000 - Does GPS work without activating with carrier?

[xxPaulCPxx]

We are shopping a laptop now, and I like the idea of the GOBI WLAN chip with built in GPS. But we may not use the WLAN yet... does the GPS still work, or is it locked by Verizon or ATT until it is activated?

[stylinexpat]

I too was wondering whether or not they came locked or unlocked..

[nesnet]

I can speak from experience. I have a new T400 with Windows 7 and the Gobi card - ordered specifically because of its improved GPS performance - and it works great.

You do not have to activate the card with the selected carrier. GPS functionality is completely separate/standalone.

It will take a few minutes to acquire a location fix indoors (typically <5 min), but once it is running in 3-D mode it will display the signal quality on a numerical scale (Lenovo's evaluation of a good signal via their GPS enabler software), along with a graph of what sats it is tracking. Uses either Google Earth or Bing Maps (your choice). Bing provides excellent street views in the hi-res 3D mode, however, you must dl and install additional software available at no charge from Microsoft.

Also, the Gobi card works very well with Microsoft Streets & Trips... my personal choice.

Gobi is a must have. You're paying a $100+ for a decent internal GPS receiver -- that has WLAN capability when you decide to activate it. Yesterday it ran for over 6 hours indoors and never lost lock (OK, it also never moved).

[stylinexpat]

So the card is unlocked and works with any carrier?

[EOMtp]

So the card is unlocked and works with any carrier?

No -- setting aside the GPS functionality, the card is de facto locked for EV-DO WWAN to Verizon insofar as Sprint (the only other CDMA carrier in the U.S.) does not recognize, and will not activate, the MEID/ESN of the cards from Lenovo. (I see you are in Taiwan -- I don't know if your CDMA carriers, if any, activate any MEID/ESN or only "their own".)

For GSM/HSPA WWAN use, the cards are SIM-locked -- they accept only the Verizon/Vodafone SIM (same SIMs as the ones in the Verizon Blackberry 9630/Tour and other Verizon EV-DO/GSM dual-mode devices sold in the U.S.).

[Tony Chan]

Thought I read somewhere that AT&T version of gobi 1000 is unlocked ?

[EOMtp]

Thought I read somewhere that AT&T version of gobi 1000 is unlocked ?

I there a Lenovo-branded AT&T version of the Gobi 1000 card? I don't think so; at least, not yet.

[nesnet]

Gobi 1000 is offered in both Verizon and AT&T versions in the U.S.

From the Lenovo T400 build page:

Integrated AT&T Mobile Broadband (Gobi 1000 3G with GPS) [add $125.00]
Integrated Verizon Mobile Broadband (Gobi 1000 3G with GPS) [add $125.00]

Additional reference: http://gobianywhere.com/files/gobi1000_overview.pdf

[Tony Chan]

Can anyone confirm AT&T version is actually unlock?

Also, to use GPS function, do we need to insert a working sim into the slot ( although not needing to actually activate )?

[stylinexpat]

Gobi 1000 is offered in both Verizon and AT&T versions in the U.S.

From the Lenovo T400 build page:

Integrated AT&T Mobile Broadband (Gobi 1000 3G with GPS) [add $125.00]
Integrated Verizon Mobile Broadband (Gobi 1000 3G with GPS) [add $125.00]

Additional reference: http://gobianywhere.com/files/gobi1000_overview.pdf

This Gobi card seems like it works every where and on all bands. So the ones that Lenovo supply are all locked the basically? I was hoping to order a laptop with the Gobi 1000 hoping that it would be unlocked that can be used with any sim card when traveling abroad.

[EOMtp]

From the Lenovo T400 build page:
Integrated AT&T Mobile Broadband (Gobi 1000 3G with GPS) [add $125.00]
Integrated Verizon Mobile Broadband (Gobi 1000 3G with GPS) [add $125.00]

Does anyone know the FRU # for the AT&T unit?

[bill bolton]

This Gobi card seems like it works every where and on all bands.

The Gobi 1000 card does NOT support HSPDA operation on the 900MHz band, as widely implemented for new 3G services outside North America over the past few years.

Tri-band HSPA/UMTS – 850/1900/2100 MHz - http://gobianywhere.com/files/gobi1000_overview.pdf

Unfortunately there are no readily available internal cards for any laptop that supports both 850MHz and 900MHz band HSPDA (3G) operation.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[Peak2Peak]

Unfortunately there are no readily available internal cards for any laptop that supports both 850MHz and 900MHz band HSPDA (3G) operation.

The Huawei EM770W embedded module supports HSPA/UMTS 850/900/1900/2100MHz bands - Although availability is still limited, eBay seller: vk138168 currently has them in stock.
(This WWAN module is also being integrated across the current Acer notebook range where applicable, Viliv X70 Series MID & Maxon Australia products)

[bill bolton]

Although availability is still limited

Which is precisely why I specifically said readily available