General FAQs Nextel FAQs Sprint FAQs

MapQuest Find Me
Nextel Specific FAQs

This page contains frequently asked questions specific to MapQuest Find Me and the Nextel network. To see general FAQs or Sprint FAQs select the appropriate link:
A. You will need the following to use MapQuest Find Me
  • A Nextel Java Phone. MapQuest Find Me works with the following Motorola iDen Java phones:
    i265, i275, i355, i560, i605, i710, i730/i733/i736, i760, i830, i836, i850, i860, i870, i930 and the BlackBerry 7520 and 7100i
  • Nextel data plan to use the $3.99 MQFM plan. If you do not have a $10.00 a month unlimited data plan you will need to order the $5.99 MapQuest FindMe plan.
  • Download application from Menu/Java Apps/Download Apps/Subscriptions.
  • Optional PC with Internet Access to update address book and view location history.
Note:
  • The i930 phone comes pre-loaded with the MapQuest Find Me application.
  • MapQuest Find Me does not work with Non-Java phones. To check your phone, press the MENU key, and look for JAVA APPS. If it is listed, check to see if your phone is on the compatible phone list above.

A. You can get MapQuest Find Me in one of five ways:
  1. Contact Nextel at 1-866-265-8305 to have the application added to your account. Once added you will have to manually install the software on your phone.
  2. Download the application from Nextel Web site. Click here to find out how.
  3. From the main menu select "Java Apps" then "Download Apps" then "Subscriptions" and select MapQuest Find Me from the list.
  4. Download and install MapQuest Find Me directly from your cell phone (view system requirements). From the main menu of your GPS enabled phone, select "Net" then "Downloads and Services", and "Applications". You will find MapQuest Find Me under the "GPS" menu.
  5. Visit your nearest Nextel Retail Store. Find a Store
After you order MapQuest Find Me, you must install the application onto your phone.

A. From the main screen of your phone select Menu, Java Apps, Download Apps, and Subscriptions and then select MapQuest Find Me from the list. Then select "Get it". Once complete, select "Exit". Then select MapQuest Find Me from the Java Apps list. Once the installation is complete, select "Done". Once again select MapQuest Find Me from the Java Apps list. When asked to "Accept the Terms" select Yes. Enter your 10 digit Nextel phone number in the field provided. The next screen will give you the activation code and a 4 digit PIN to use to Activate your Web Account on www.mapquestfindme.com. All the information you need for activating your Web Account can be found in the Web Activation menu item found by clicking on the MapQuest Find Me 'Settings' icon on the main screen of the application.

A. You will first need to De-install the existing version of MapQuest Find Me from your handset(This option is not available on the i930). From the main screen of your phone select Menu, Java Apps, MapQuest Find Me, hit the Menu key and select De-Install. Hit the hang up button twice to go back to the main screen.

Follow the installation instructions in the above FAQ to get the newest version of MapQuest Find Me onto your phone.

A. You will be able to make and receive phone calls while using MapQuest Find Me. If you receive a call while using MapQuest Find Me, your phone will ring or vibrate as normal and you will see the normal notifications on your screen. If you answer your phone, the MapQuest Find Me application will be suspended. While the handset is in use (with either a phone call or direct connections) no GPS or Cell Tower data is gathered. Upon completion of your call you will be able to resume the application, by selecting "Java Apps," then "Suspended Apps" from your phone menu.

A. This happens when:
  • the Data Access Plan for the phone has not been fully provisioned OR
  • your phone is outside of Nextel coverage OR
  • you have a conflict with the PDS Browse setting on your account.
  • your data plan is a Pay-As-You-Go plan.
New data access plans can take up to 2 to 4 hours to activate. You must have a Nextel data plan to use MapQuest Find Me. A pay-as-you-go data access plan is not sufficient for use with Mapquest Find Me. If you do not already have a data plan please contact Nextel to add a data plan to your account. Prior to activation of a data plan you will not be able to install nor use Find Me.

Absence of a Data Access Plan or the presence of an invalid PDS Browse on you account manifests itself in these ways:
  • The 'page cannot be displayed' error during the setup process is the most common.
  • On the 'Setup' screen, after entering the PIN, pressing 'Save' seems to freeze on the 'Loading' message.
Please contact your Nextel Sales Representative or Nextel Customer Support to either order the appropriate data plan or have the PDS Browse corrected. After you place your order you may have to wait 2 to 4 hours for data plan activation.

If you have already ordered a data plan and have waited 4 hours please contact Nextel Wireless Web Support at 1-866-265-8305 to confirm that your data plan has been activated and verify the correct PDS Browse is on your account.

A. Old software versions and software versions on newer model phones may not have been certified for the MapQuest Find Me application. For phones with old software versions, it is recommended that you upgrade your phones software. (See IDEN Software Upgrades). For newer models, please send your software version to findme_support@mapquest.com. It takes a minimum of 5 days to have new software versions certified. If you have a phone model that hasn't been certified by Nextel, you may have a longer wait. Please check the list of phone models certified for MapQuest Find Me.

A. Here's how to check the software release of your Motorola Java technology-enabled phone:

From the idle screen, press the following keys on the phone in rapid sequence: "#", "*" , "menu", "right arrow" on four-way navigation key.

When the Trace Mode screen appears, "Unit Info" is highlighted. Press "View", Scroll to "Software" and press "Select." Look at the number shown below the "Software Ver:".

For instructions on how to update your software to this release go to the IDEN Software Upgrades. There is no charge for this update.

A. Your $5.99 plan includes 300 Kilobytes of data consumption. The exact data usage of MapQuest Find Me is greatly dependant on how you have setup the settings in your application. With default settings, your Visibility is set to "OFF." This means that your locations are NOT transmitted. With these settings you will be able to use the product about 10-15 times per month. Use this Calculator to calculate your usage.

If you have turned your Visibility to "ON" your locations are transmitted to your private, secure Web site at (http://www.mapquestfindme.com) at the rate specified by the GPS and Tower intervals. This will allow you to view your current and location history on the Web. So your data consumption will be increased if you have turned your visibility to "ON".

The following table provides a guideline for data usage when your visibility is set to "ON:"
Type of Request Frequency* Data Usage (KB) Frequency* Data Usage (KB) Frequency* Data Usage (KB)
Maps* 4 34.4 4 34.4 4 34.4
Routes* 2 26.0 2 26.0 2 26.0
Menu Refreshes* 5 21.5 5 21.5 5 21.5
GPS Transmissions@ 15 76.2 5 228.5 2 571.3
Tower Transmissions 30 38.1 30 38.1 15 76.2
Total Usage (KB/Month) 196.2 348.5 729.4

Q. When I go to download MapQuest Find Me I receive the following error:
   Download Apps Error
   Failed Download
   Please retry
A. If you have questions about downloading please contact Nextel Wireless Web Support at 1-866-265-8305.

A.
MapQuest Find Me
Application Price
(No Data Plan)
$ 3.99 MRC, SOC: PDSMAPQ1
First 30 days FREE
** Requires a 1mb Data Access plan**
**Will not work with the Pay-as-you-go Data Plan**
Application Price
(With Data Bundle)
$5.99 MRC, SOC: PDSMAPQ2
First 30 days FREE
Includes App + 300 KB of Data Service and overage charge of $0.015/kb

A. If prompted to "Enable Security" on your phone select "Yes". This will update your browser and allow all new GPS applications to work properly.

A. To receive and record a GPS location, the handset requires an unhindered view of the sky and a strong Nextel signal. Recording of cell tower positions was implemented to provide a reasonable estimate for the position of the handset when the unhindered view of the sky condition is not met. Cell tower positions are recorded whenever the handset is within Nextel coverage and network communications are active. It can be used to supplement the GPS locations. The frequency of GPS or Cell Tower requests for position is controlled by selecting the 'Settings' icon on the main screen of the application on the handset. GPS frequency can be set for every 2, 5, 15 or 60 minutes. Cell Tower can be set for every 5, 15, 30 or 120 minutes.

A. A Cell tower fix indicates the location of the nearest Nextel tower, and that the device is in the general vicinity of that tower. The actual distance from that tower will vary depending on the Nextel coverage in your area and can range anywhere from 1 to 10+ miles.

A. Click here to see a general discussion.

Your Nextel MapQuest Find Me account collects and displays two types of position data, GPS and Cell Tower. The GPS data is received from the GPS satellites when the handset has a clear view of the sky and is within Nextel coverage. Cell Tower data is received by the handset as long as the handset is within Nextel coverage. You can control how often your handset requests either type of position by selecting the 'Settings' icon on the main screen and then selecting either Tower or GPS interval.

The handset displays the type and time stamp of the most recent position. The most recent position is also displayed on the web site in the default ("LATEST") view. When you choose "TODAY" or any other view with multiple locations, past GPS locations display on the map with a small colored triangle icon and cell tower locations display with a stylized tower icon. A yellow highlight will connect the past GPS positions along the fastest route between the reported locations.

The tower positions are not used to calculate the route, so you may see cell tower icons scattered on your map but not on the route itself. They indicate the locations for any cell tower positions sent by your handset to your account. Cell tower positions are also surrounded by a transparent, light grey circle. This circle defines a one-mile radius around the cell tower itself, and is meant only to indicate that a cell tower location will never be a precise location — your actual position may or may not be inside the shaded area.

A. Currently, MapQuest Find Me only works with Nextel and Sprint phones.

Q. Other Questions
Please feel free to send us additional questions and feedback. Simply e-mail your questions to findme_support@mapquest.com.
Powered by uLocate Communications
Business Solutions | Advertise | Wireless | Link to MapQuest | Help | FAQ | Account Services | Contact Us | About | Privacy | Legal
© 2005 MapQuest.com, Inc. All rights reserved.