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
    2012-11-01T22:23:47+00:00

    No. The Microsoft Surface does not have GPS capability. Instead it uses internet based locator services to provide the same functionality.

    It's not the "same functionality" if it doesn't work w/o an internet connection.  Like others involved in this thread, WiFi is not always available to me.  Cell service is not always available to me.  I still want to be able to navigate using offline maps.

    I've been so excited about the prospect of the Surface Pro.  Then I realized that it didn't offer cellular data.  So bummed.  Then I realized I could use my iPhone as a hotspot and all was well.  Now this...  :(  Unless there is a tiny USB GPS dongle available, there will be no Surface for me.

    (And before anyone asks, my iPhone screen is not big enough for me to comfortably use for navigation.)

    I think I am right in saying none of the tablets out today can serve up maps without an internet connection, unless you buy a product which downloads maps to the phone before going offline. I think Google was working offline maps but I am not sure of the status. So with that said, if you have internet, the Surface can use the locator service and display maps. I did it with my iPhone as a hotspot with the Surface. Without even internet service, all the GPS could tell you is your coordinates. Hope that makes sense

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