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Apple confirms GLONASS support for iPhone 4S

by Michael Grothaus Oct 19th 2011 at 4:45PM

Apple has updated its US iPhone 4S tech specs page to say that the new devices supports GLONASS positioning systems. GLONASS stand for Global Navigation Satellite System and is the Russian version of GPS that was developed in the 1990s. According to Wikipedia, the GLONASS system fell into disrepair in the 90s as the Russian economy sank, but in the last decade the system has come back with Russia launching its 24th satellite last year, giving GLONASS coverage to every inch of Russian territory.

Before GLONASS, the iPhone only supported assisted GPS. There's no word from Apple yet if the iPhone 4S will take advantage of both systems simultaneously on a world wide basis to give users more accurate positioning data. Also, at this time only the US iPhone 4S page has been updated to note GLONASS support.



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Apple has updated its US iPhone 4S tech specs page to say that the new devices supports GLONASS positioning systems. GLONASS stand for...
 

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markstrom

We have full GLONASS coverage here in Sweden.

When comparing my iPhone 4 and 4S i can tell that accuracy is very good on the 4S. Maps display a circle of about 2 meters and the position is spot on every time, even indoors. The old iPhone 4 displays a circle of about 10 meters and for indoor positioning its 2-5 meters off. Time to make a positioning is instant compared to 2-5 seconds for the old one.

Don't know if I should credit GLONASS or the new Qualcomm MDM6610 chip which I guess has an integrated GPS (since the MDM6600 has)

October 20 2011 at 2:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
flyingburger

All of the news blogs missed the real reason. Russia is phasing in a 25% tariff on GPS devices that don't also do GLONASS. The device manufacturers wouldn't have done so otherwise, though it's a good backup in case GPS goes down.

October 20 2011 at 1:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bioffe

Let's give them credit. GLONASS covers every inch of our planet as of August. Read your wikipedia article again.

October 19 2011 at 5:21 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to bioffe's comment
Colin Castro

I guess you didn't know, the whole world is Russian territory

October 20 2011 at 11:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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