AccuTracking

Since AccuTracking works on iDEN phones, is there any technical reason why it can't work on the hybrid Sprint/Nextel CDMA/iDEN phones (e.g., the Motorola ic402 and ic502)? Also, could AccuTracking conceivably run on the Sprint Moto Q (Power Vision EV-DO CDMA network)?

I remember someone said it works on ic402 but we never tested. I went through the ic402 specs and it looks just like other iDEN phones so I think it should work. We don't support Moto Q as of now but we are going to support Windows Mobile 5 phones soon.

I got an ic502 CDMA/iDEN hybrid phone to try out, but it appears that the GPS location is unavailable to user applications. I checked the Sprint developer website and it appears that Sprint presently has a policy of denying handset-accessed GPS on their CDMA phones to anyone who isn't in a corporate partnership with them. Since the Sprint/Nextel hybrid phones use the CDMA network for data transfer, they are included under this policy. I don't know if there are any ways to get around this restriction.

I was able to activate the developer root on my ic502 from the Sprint developers' web site. I tried uploading Mobile GMaps to my phone and it works fine -- no problems with accessing the GPS location. I then tried uploading the AccuTracking *.zip file (iDEN version) to my phone over-the-air using Sprint's Total Uploader (http://ra.pcslab.com/upload/index.php), which is the same tool I used to upload Mobile GMaps. I seem to be able to get it onto my phone -- it appears in the list of applications -- but it won't install/initialize properly. When I try to run it, nothing happens. I tried uploading Mologogo and have the same problem. I'm not sure what's wrong.

If you can wait till tomorrow, I'll send you a new build that you can try on your ic502. We don't have the phone so don't know the actual results but we do have the emulator.

That sounds great. If I can get a version that installs correctly, I'll let you know how AccuTracking performs on the hybrid.

Please email support for the new build. Cross my fingers...

I've got your email and emailed you the download link. Please submit any problems. Thanks!

I tried the ic502 build on my phone and it does run, but I haven't been able to get a satellite fix. I noticed that when I installed the program it didn't prompt me whether I wanted to allow the application to access GPS location information. Indeed, when I check the application settings the location access is set to "Never Allow" (that is the only option it gives me). I do have the developer root activated on my phone. I wonder if you need a VeriSign digitial certificate to give your application full functionality on the Sprint phones. So far the only third-party GPS application I've been able to run on my phone is Mobile GMaps.

I think you are right the VeriSign cert is needed for accessing GPS. But it looks like even if we have the cert ready the third-party app still needs to wait for approval from the big guy. I'll check with the dev.

Have you tried to re-activate your developer root cert?

Not sure what you mean exactly -- the developer certification on my phone was set to "On" when I tried uploading AccuTracking (I activated the developer cert through the Sprint ADP web site).

Here are some step-by-step instructions for loading a Java GPS application onto the ic502, for the benefit of users who may wish to use AccuTracking (assuming a working hybrid version can be developed).


1. Activate the developer root on your phone. This is necessary for the application to access location based services on Sprint CDMA phones. Register for an account on the Sprint Applications Developer Program web site: http://developer.sprint.com/site/global/home/p_home.jsp . Go to Develop > Enabling Device for Activation (http://developer.sprint.com/site/global ... vation.jsp). Click on "Go there now" where it says "Device/ESN Activation." Click on "Add Device." You'll need to enter your 10-digit phone number where it says "PCS Phone Number" and your 8-character hexadecimal Electronic Serial Number where it says "ESN or MEID." The hexadecimal ESN can be found inside your phone beneath where the battery rests. You can also find it by typing ##DATA# (##3282) and selecting Advanced > View > ESN. Once you have added your phone on the Device Activation page, set Actions to "Active" and press "Submit." The status should change to "Y". If you want to double check that the developer root has been activated on your phone, type ##DATA# on your keypad and select Advanced > View > More > More > Developer Certificate, which should say "On."

2. Download the GPS application onto your PC. If you downloaded the application as individual *.jad and *.jar files, put them in a *.zip archive before uploading the application to your phone.

3. Upload the application to your phone. If your PC has an internet connection you can use the Sprint Total Uploader (Content Upload Tool) to transfer the application to your phone over-the-air (OTA). Go to http://ra.pcslab.com/upload/index.php and enter your 10-digit phone number where it asks you to, and then use the file "Browse" button to select the *.zip file on your PC. Click on "Send" and within a few seconds you should receive a text message on your phone from the PCSLab web site. Click on "Options" (right softkey) and the first option should be a URL. Select it (left softkey) and your phone will make a connection to the internet. The phone will most likely then warn you that you're downloading a non-trusted file. Select "Continue" (left softkey) to download the application. The phone will display a download progress screen. When the download is complete, you will be prompted with a menu that gives two options, "Run" and "Shop." Select "Run" (left softkey). If the application is certified to access GPS location information on your phone, you should be prompted whether you wish to allow this. Select "Always Allow." The application should then finish installing and be ready to go.


Note 1: You can check to see if the application is allowed to access GPS location information by going to My Content > Applications from the main menu. Toggle down to the application of interest and select Options (right softkey) > Settings > Location. If there is only one option available and it says "Never Allow," then you're in trouble.

Note 2: If your application runs without problems and is able to access the GPS device, I believe you should then be able to deactivate the developer root on your phone (if you so choose) without adversely affecting the performance of the application. You would, however, need to reactivate the developer root if you wanted to install another GPS application. To deactivate the root, go to the Sprint Device Activation page mentioned above and switch Actions to "Disabled." Then switch Release to "Yes" to release your phone. You should be able to verify that the developer root has been deactivated on your phone by typing ##DATA# on your keypad and selecting Advanced > View > More > More > Developer Certificate, which should say "Off."

Note 3: If for some reason you should want the Master Subsidy Lock (MSL) code for your phone, I believe it is the six-digit code that the Sprint and Nextel representatives give to you while programming your phone with your 10-digit phone number for the first time. I don't remember the process exactly, but I think at some point they will tell you to type ##xxxxxx# into your keypad (where xxxxxx is the MSL code) before they have you enter your phone number (Mobile Directory Number, MDN). I think you also enter the MSL when they have you set the Mobile Station Identification/Mobile Subscriber Identity number (MSID, a 10-digit phone number).

I have went to the sprint site and turned on the root developer for my phone but the phine still shows OFF. What gives?