For google maps, you need network (3g/4g or Wifi although wifi woll only get you so far)
There are map apps (not free) that have locally stored maps so don't need a network. (Navigon, Ndrive, Co-Pilot). The GPS does not need 3g/4g but will get an initial location faster and hold it under adverse conditions better if it has one.
thanks. i was just wondering if it was like a reg. GPS. wont Google maps just eat up your data. Won't be bad on unlimited but if you have to start paying more for data it won't be worth using google maps for anything
Google maps is not terrible on data, particularly since they switched to vector maps from raster a couple months ago, but you are right, if vzw doesn't offer unlimited plans for tablets, using one of the local map products is probably advisable.