A free application available from the BlackBerry App World or from Google is Google Maps for BlackBerry. Working in conjunction with the GPS receiver embedded in most BlackBerry models, the application is able to locate the user on a map very accurately. When GPS is not available, the location is displayed with a circle of probability generated by the use of the cellular network’s base stations location to triangulate position.

The program also has the capability to give directions, just like a separate GPS receiver, with one drawback: the phone and the map program can’t be used together.

Google Maps has overlays to add points of interest, the most useful of which is the live traffic overlay. Where data is available, the map updates with real-time traffic information by painting the roadways with green, yellow, or red, to denote the traffic conditions. Green being free flow, yellow, congested, and red nearly stopped. In addition to traffic, the display can be changed from the illustrated map view to a satellite image view.

Another feature of interest is Latitude. This allows the user and like-minded fellow users to map their positions on Google Maps, sharing their locations with each other. At first, it was very cool and interesting to see my location with my colleagues' ones displayed on the map. Shortly it was a little disconcerting that they knew where I was at all times, and vice-versa. Now we are used to it, and do turn it on or off. It does make finding each other in new places very easy, without a multitude of text messages or phone calls to provide terminal guidance.

Overall, a really good app, it could use a few improvements such as in speed and altitude on the information bar, other than that, it is well developed and easy to use.