The good news is that the new Samsung BlackJack II rocks a full-fledged SiRF III GPS receiver - none of that cell-tower signal triangulation stuff here. The bad news, unfortunately, is that the GPS hardware in the BlackJack II is locked-down to only work with the bundled TeleNav software (AT&T’s way of getting more TeleNav revenue). You see, there’s this driver, called GPS Intermediary Driver (GPSID), that Microsoft uses to serve as the communications middle-man between the GPS hardware and applications that need to access the hardware. While the GPSID driver seems to be configured to work with the TeleNav software and Windows Live Search, there’s no provision for any other application to make use of the SiRF III GPS module. Well, BlackJack 2 hopefuls will be glad to hear that the MoDaCo Smartphone GPS Activator will open up the GPS hardware on your Samsung BlackJack II (and probably the Motorola Q9h ) to a host of GPS-enabled applications. The MoDaCo hack will open up the COM4 port for GPS access, allowing you to use associate your favorite apps like Virtual Mobile Earth or Google Maps with the GPS unit. Turns out, the MoDaCo Smartphone GPS Activator also Application Unlocks your Windows Mobile 6.0 Standard handset. That means you can re-order the applications on your Start Menu - bonus! Oh, and if any Motorola Q9h owners out there want to give this utility a go, please drop us a line and let us know how it works. Over-The-Air install: Point your mobile browser to: http://modaco.com/gpsactivatorbj2 On-device CAB install: Run this CAB file from your handset: http://content.modaco.net/MoDaCo.SmartphoneGPSActivator.COM4.CAB Computer installation: Run this executable from your PC: http://content.modaco.net/Setup.MoDaCo.SmartphoneGPSActivator.COM4.EXE Props to Paul for this awesome hack! [Via: MoDaCo ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Samsung SGH-i617 BlackJack II confirmed with integrated GPS - available Black FridayBrief: Video unboxing of Samsung BlackJack IITeleNav GPS Navigator 5.2 released; Adds social networkingSamsung Updates Blackjack System SoftwareSamsung SGH-i617 is the BlackJack 2

We’ve just gotten confirmation that the new Samsung SGH-i617 BlackJack 2 (II) will be sporting an integrated GPS module. The SiRF III GPS receiver inside the Samsung BlackJack II is reportedly the real deal - not some cell-tower triangulation, faux-GPS. AT&T’s BlackJack 2 promo website reveals that the handset will sport “integrated GPS,” indicating that the GPS feature in the BlackJack II is hardware based. However, it remains to be seen whether or not the GPS hardware will be limited to the TeleNav software or if it’ll be free to make use of any GPS software on the market. We’re hoping for an un-crippled GPS module. As we all know, the Samsung i617 BlackJack II will be rocking a Windows Mobile 6.0 OS with a camera bumped-up to 2 megapixels. The quad-band (850/900/1800/1900Mhz) GSM radio and US-friendly HSDPA (850/1900Mhz) should be pulling duty as the Samsung BlackJack’s successor come this Friday - that would be Black Friday, for the uninitiated. Of course, we’re all still left wondering where the hell is the Windows Mobile 6.0 upgrade for U.S. BlackJack users ? [Via: WMExperts ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Samsung SGH-i617 approved by the FCC; Is this BlackJack 2?Samsung SGH-i617 is the BlackJack 2Samsung SGH-i780 hits London with GPS and WiFiSamsung SGH-i550 S60 GPS phone announcedSamsung SGH-i780 (Blackjack2) is the new undisputed champion of Windows Mobile Smartphones