The GPS Phone - No Hassle Travel

GPS phones are an amazing idea that allows people many advantages. One positive aspect is the ability to get directions to where ever you want to go. Not only can you just get directions you can get step by step directions that can get you there and monitor you closely until you reach your final destination.

There have probably been points in your life where you have been lost in your car. And you probably did what most people do and drove around hoping to see something familiar or that you would get back on track somehow. For most people the idea of stopping and asking someone for directions is inconvenient as not only do you have to find a place to stop, you have to hope the person gives you accurate directions, and all of that might be equally unappealing if you have kids in the car. Having GPS on your cell phone can change all of that.

Via Moto and TeleNav both offer location based services. They can get you driving directions that will get you right to the front door of your location. If you are looking for a restaurant or a school, you just type in the address and wait for further instructions. You will receive very specific directions that will navigate you through your travels.

They also provide a service that will give you back up directions. So if you`re driving along and you make a wrong turn or you miss a turn, your GPS phone will simply give you a route to take you back to your original route. It will also give you re-routing instructions if there is construction or a car accident up ahead. These features allow you to stay focused on driving and elevate the stress that can come with driving and finding new places.

GPS cell phones work in two ways; subscription and software. When you subscribe to a company for GPS service you will have to have a second GPS receiver that usually sits on your car dash board. It connects through a wire or can be wireless.

When you use the subscription program you have to pay a company a monthly fee. The fee might be monthly or every couple of months and you might have to sign a contract that locks you in for a certain amount of time. And fees range in price and may increase depending on how often it is used.

If you go with the software package, you can have it put right on to your phone as an added program. In this case there is no contract to sign or monthly fees to pay for.

If you`re looking for a GPS cell phone that can give you directions while you`re on foot, you might be out of luck unless you live in Europe. There you can buy a Nokia phone that has an added accessory to make it a hand held GPS. It will provide a route plan, TomTom, city maps and GPS antenna. A hand held GPS is great for travelers on foot walking through foreign cities or hiking in the woods. Hopefully this service becomes available for travelers outside of Europe.

If you can swing the extra fee that comes with purchasing the software or don`t mind subscribing to GPS, then it might be a great thing to have. There are many perks to it and even if it not used frequently, there will most definitely be a time where it will be needed.