Purpose of the Mock GPS app?

[Doncankook]

As far as I can tell, a mock GPS provider or location application is to convert the data from a Bluetooth GPS receiver, convert it, then pass it to applications so they can use the location data. It's used because most applications don't have code included in the application that can get the data directly from the GPS receiver, and the GPS module in cheaper phones or tablets are inferior to the better, purpose-built bluetooth GPS receivers, in terms of accuracy, precision, or update rates (now up to 10 per second.)

Recently, developers have been adding the code to connect to the bluetooth GPS receivers, such as TraackAddict and RaceChrono.

 

[SpookDroid]

Mmmnope. 'Mock' GPS apps just override (if the system allows) the GPS data location on your device, whether it's coming from the internal GPS or an external one if it's paired and supported with the device, and passes on a 'mock' location instead, which can then be used to 'trick' apps into thinking you're in a location you are not, for instance, to access geo-restricted country outside of the authorized area.

In order for a phone to use an external GPS signal, however, you do need a special 'driver' or app that's always running, or as you mentioned, for a particular app to include specific code to work with a specific 3rd party, external unit.

 

[Doncankook]

It also bypasses the cell-network location services that phones use, and substitutes the pin-point GPS location, and is basically what was in post #2.