Phone giant Nokia has launched a free map and navigation service for its handsets that analysts believe could challenge stand-alone sat-nav devices.The service stores maps on the phone, cutting down the need to update and download new ones over the network.Ovi maps will initially be available on 10 handsets and will offer so-called “turn-by-turn” navigation, similar to that in existing GPS devices.To read this BBC News report in full, see:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8472165.stmAlso see:Nokia Responds to Google Challenge on Navigation Software
Nokia on Thursday began giving away professional GPS navigation software on 10 of its smartphones, matching a competitive move by Google and dealing a blow to the leaders in the market for specialized devices, Garmin and TomTom.The Finnish mobile phone maker called its move “game-changing,” but analysts were skeptical that it would be enough to stem the slide in Nokia’s share of the top-end market.
www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/technology/companies/22nokia.htmlNokia to give away satnav software
Nokia is taking the dramatic step of making its satellite navigation software free to all current and future owners of its smartphones as the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer intensifies its fight against Apple’s iPhone and handsets using Google’s Android platform.The Finnish company, which makes roughly four out of every 10 phones sold worldwide, spent €6.5bn (£5.6bn) on map firm Navteq in 2007, but from today will let anyone with a GPS-enabled Nokia device – such as its N95 or N97 handsets – download its navigation service and maps for free from its Ovi mobile application store. To date, Nokia has sold more than 80m compatible handsets worldwide.
www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/21/nokia-satnav-softwareNokia maps out new front in mobile phone wars
Nokia today announced that it would make full GPS navigation available to all users of its current mobile handsets worldwide, with a new version of its Ovi Maps application.Although mapping services are common on mobile devices such as the iPhone, BlackBerry and Nokia’s own smartphones, this is the first time that turn-by-turn voice navigation, normally a feature of dedicated GPS units, has been made available for free by any handset manufacturer.
technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6996954.eceNokia takes on Google with free navigation app
Nokia is making its navigation service free to all GPS-enabled Nokia devices in a move that will help the company better compete in the smartphone market against the likes of Apple and Google.Starting Thursday, Nokia users will be able to download for free the client that enables GPS phones to get Ovi Maps and Navigation, as well as, various city guides on their phones. Nokia has been offering the maps and navigation service for more than two years. After its acquisition of Navteq announced in 2007, it enhanced the service by adding turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation. And it added premium content from partners, such as Lonely Planet.
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