android gps provider,Android Location Providers - GPS or Network Provider?

There are 3 location providers in Android.

They are:

gps –> (GPS, AGPS): Name of the GPS location provider. This

provider determines location using satellites. Depending on

conditions, this provider may take a while to return a location fix.

Requires the permission android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION.

network –> (AGPS, CellID, WiFi MACID): Name of the network

location provider. This provider determines location based on

availability of cell tower and WiFi access points. Results are

retrieved by means of a network lookup. Requires either of the

permissions android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION or

android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION.

passive –> (CellID, WiFi MACID): A special location provider for

receiving locations without actually initiating a location fix. This

provider can be used to passively receive location updates when other

applications or services request them without actually requesting the

locations yourself. This provider will return locations generated by

other providers. Requires the permission

android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, although if the GPS is not

enabled this provider might only return coarse fixes. This is what

Android calls these location providers, however, the underlying

technologies to make this stuff work is mapped to the specific set of

hardware and telco provided capabilities (network service).

The best way is to use the “network” or “passive” provider first,

and then fallback on “gps”, and depending on the task, switch between

providers. This covers all cases, and provides a lowest common

denominator service (in the worst case) and great service (in the best

case).

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Now Android have Fused location provider

The Fused Location Provider intelligently manages the underlying location technology and gives you the best location according to your needs. It simplifies ways for apps to get the user’s current location with improved accuracy and lower power usage

Fused location provider provide three ways to fetch location

Last Location: Use when you want to know current location once.

Request Location using Listener: Use when application is on screen / frontend and require continues location.

Request Location using Pending Intent: Use when application in background and require continues location.

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