How to talk while using gps?

J Guru wrote:

I like to make phone calls during long drives but it seems I cannot do this on iPhone 5 (iOs 8.1.1). The turn by turn directions stop and I must end the call for them to continue. Is it possible, in any way, to do these 2 things at once?

If you are a network that works with simultaneous voice and data, yes.

AT&T does.

Dunno about others.

There is no workaround for the iPhone 5 at this time. Verizon is supporting VOLTE on a very limited selection of phones, and based on what I've been hearing from Verizon customers, it's flakey at best.

GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile have supported simultaneous voice and data since the beginning.

Technically, the GSM portion of your phone is unlocked and you could switch carriers without buying a new phone, but you will not get LTE service at all from anyone other than Verizon in the US on that phone.

Of course, slower data might just trump no data while you're on the phone...

J Guru wrote:

Thanks to all for the clarification. It is surprising, as has been said, that others have offered this multi-tasking from the beginning while some iPhone usage lacks it. Technology offers so much benefit, there is nothing wrong with being a bit patient, I suppose.

Many of the 4G LTE Android phones that Verizon sells have two separate chips, one for CDMA and one for 4G/LTE. The CDMA is used for voice, the 4G/LTE for data. On those phones, as long as you're on the 4G/LTE network, you can talk and use data at the same time. iPhones have the CDMA and the 4G/LTE on the same chip and only one can be used at a time. Verizon is transitioning to Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) but, right now, it's not everywhere, only the iPhone 6 and 6+ currently support it and, as Tim mentioned, it's not quite there yet.

Who is your carrier?

CDMA carriers such as Sprint and Verizon do not support simultaneous voice and data.

(note: This is beginning to change with the iPhone 6 and 6+ as they support Voice over LTE.)

It depends on your carrier. Many carriers do not support phone calls and using data at the same time. You would have to check with your carrier to see if they support this.

J Guru wrote:

Super helpful. Thanks. Makes perfect sense.

Glad it helped. Sorry it wasn't a more positive answer.