Probably not, since they use something called Assisted GPS (AGPS) where the phone offloads the computational processing to remote servers over the cell connection. If you buy an expensive smartphone with "real" GPS then you will be able to use it outside of cell range, but remember, without the cell connection you can't download maps or satellite images (so you have to load them into your phone's memory beforehand).

Trying to wrestle control over the cellphone software platforms from the phone companies. Then they can sell you applications or whatever.
Maybe they'll use it for world domination somehow