[timppu]

When I go abroad, I many times buy a foreign prepaid sim for my phone in order to avoid the horror stories of 15000€ roaming internet usage bills when I get back home.

However, it is still unclear to me is the GPS license I buy for Nokia Maps 3.0 usable on e.g. the new sim, if I bought the licence for my current sim alreadt earlier. Is the licence locked to the device itself (IMEI?), or the sim, or both?

Last time when I went far away, just in case I first bought the prepaid sim, and after that bought the maps licence for that country, for one month. This worked fine, but I didn't try if it still works if I put back my own sim.

If the licence is tied to the sim, I think this could be a problem if I've e.g. bought a one year licence for Europe, and buy a prepaid sim in another European country, and still want to use the GPS.

On the other hand, if it is locked to the sim, does it mean the licence is right away usable on another similar Nokia phone, if I switch my sim to it?

I'd personally prefer if the licence was locked (only) to the device, IMEI number. 

Thanks in advance.

[sockatume]

I believe that licences for mobile phone apps are signed to the IMEI number of the device, but I can't confirm that. It's definitely true of N-Gage games.

[radical24]

my license seems to work off of my sim card rather then imei so i am not sure what is different and how exactly it works. i have just transferred a license that i have been using on different n series to my n97 works like a charm. 

[qazxlv]

Voice navigation license is tied to the SIM card.

[gskimmel]

IMEI...I switched SIM cards on the N97 and all I needed to do was to update the license on the new SIM to get it to work again.

[qazxlv]

Yes, and it looks like you are right!

I recall my previous comment.

[mbrett · Accepted solution]

Right then I think I can clear this one up.

The Nokia Maps licencing design is such that it is based on what you do first. If you change your phone, but keep your sim, then from that point forward the Maps licence is linked to your sim. If you change your sim and keep your phone, from that poitn forward the Maps licence is linked to your phone. 

To ammend this link at a later date you have to talk nicely to Nokia Care.

[timppu]

Thanks mbrett. Sounds a bit complicated, but I guess it is flexible for different needs.

One more thing. When you run out of your old navigation licence and later buy a new one, do you know if this is selectable once again, or is your new licence linked to the same thing (IMEI or SIM) as the earlier licence? I presume it can be selected again, just making sure.

[mbrett]

@timppu Interesting question.

My assumption would be that if you let your licence run out and then purchase a new licence this would be open again, but I accept that it may be possible that if you extend a license prior to expirey this could resolt in it still being linked to the phone or sim.

This is one for the Nokia GURUs as it's going to be down to their coding.

I knew the answer to your first question, but this one is for higher beings than myself.

Thanks for the Kudos much appreciated.