Does Microsoft Surface have GPS?

Anonymous
2012-10-16T16:40:26+00:00

Simple question, cannot find the answer.  A couple of websites states that GPS is there, however I find nothing on www.surface.com.  The website that state that GPS is there have said that since june and I don't know how they would know?

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Anonymous
2012-12-12T16:23:17+00:00

There is no GPS on the Surface. It uses location services based on the internet connection.

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btbt 11,841 Reputation points
2012-10-16T18:47:26+00:00

As it's a WiFi only device, there is no GPS, but it does have location services as part of the operating system.

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Anonymous
2012-12-26T22:54:36+00:00

Hi,

Surface for Windows RT does not support an external GPS device such as the one you refer to.

Surface for Windows RT can look up your location based on WiFi signals in your vicinity, as long as the Surface is also Internet-connected.  Apps such as Maps or Weather, or web sites through Internet Explorer, can use this information.

Hope this helps

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Anonymous
2013-04-02T19:11:00+00:00

Hello Myron,

Surface RT does not have GPS, however it does have Location Services which allows certain programs to know your location based on IP address.

Was there a specific app you needed to use with GPS?

Best regards.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-10-30T10:28:57+00:00

    I am dumbfounded why the Surface does not have a GPS sensor, while the inexpensive ($200) Google Nexus 7 tablet does. I travel extensively and handle lots of phone calls while doing so. I also need frequent access to the internet and Google Maps, as well as a way to listen to my extensive collection of world music (most of which is hard to come by). 

    Here's how I solved my problem (and a few related issues): 

    I use a the HTC Design 4G phone from Boost, which gives me unlimited data for $55 per month (now costing me $45 per month due to their shrinkage program). 

    Boost does allow one to use Google Maps, but unfortunately will "conveniently" forget your default settings and ask you on a regular basis to restate your preference (since they really want you to use the bundled TeleNav application - for a few extra dollars per month). This is painful because if you accidentally choose the wrong one - which is quite easy to do - you will need to pull over and go into your device settings to undo the damage.

    Also, by uploading most of my music to Google Play I can now easily listen to it on the go. But while the music will automatically fade during a phone call, or for Google Maps' voice guidance, the same is not true between the voice guidance and a phone conversation.  In that case, if you make a wrong turn, voice guidance will constantly talk in your ear while you are trying to manage a sensitive business transaction at the same time - a highly frustrating scenario under the best of circumstances. 

    To escape my fate, I purchased a Nexus 7 and I use my Boost phone as my WiFi hotspot for an extra $10 per month.  Now I use the Nexus to listen to my music collection and to provide Google Maps' turn-by-turn voice guidance to get to my clients.  Since this output is routed through my car stereo, I can just shut the stereo off if needed.  Voila, problem solved.

    In this scenario I use my phone only for phone calls, and to act as a hotspot for the Nexus - a much simpler affair to manage on the go.

    My only remaining problem - I still need a computer.  The Surface would have solved that last little piece of the puzzle, but not without GPS.  

    Dang.  And to think that for a few pennies more they could have had me buy a Surface Pro Tablet.  Now I'll have to think again.           

    Could you not just buy a bluetooth GPS recvier for the surface pro 8 and leave it in you car on the dash

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