Mobile Phones News :Download Ovi Maps free, forever

It has been a tough period for Nokia over the last 12 – 18 months. Although still the market leader in mobile phones, very slowly the lead they have over the competition has been eroded away as manufacturers like Samsung flood the market with capable devices that compare favourably

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It has been a tough period for Nokia over the last 12 – 18 months. Although still the market leader in mobile phones, very slowly the lead they have over the competition has been eroded away as manufacturers like Samsung flood the market with capable devices that compare favourably with price and functionality to Nokia devices in similar market segments.

Then there are HTC, providing amazing smartphones running Windows Mobile and Android, manufactured either under their own name or rebranded for others. Then  LG, the re-emerging Motorola, and Sony Ericsson, who despite problems of their own with unreliable software still produce some promising devices. And that’s not to mention the hype driven Apple machine, the iPhone with its super smooth user interface making everything else seem old and clunky by comparison.

Old and clunky are two words that rather fit the S60 user interface found on N Series and E Series handsets, as well as some more mid range devices. If Nokia are going to remain number one, then changes are required. We know that they are looking at a fresh UI for the S60 devices, but they still need something else, something that will help further differentiate them from the competition, something uniquely offered by Nokia.

And it may be they have just delivered that ‘something’.

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GPS is nothing new on a mobile phone, many a mid range device includes GPS these days, and it really is a required feature for any top of the range smartphone. GPS is available on a wide selection of Nokia devices, N Series, E Series, and others like some Xpress Music devices and mid range 6xxx handsets, and Nokia also provide their own mapping solution for SatNav. Nokia Maps, now rebranded as OVI Maps, offers something that others can’t, a complete mapping solution on a mobile device. Sure, other manufacturers can offer devices with a third party mapping solution, and there is always the excellent Google Maps, but with these there are issues, such as licensing costs after free trials or data costs.

Nokia OVI Maps has always had an edge in offering a complete package, which can be downloaded to a PC and side-loaded onto the device, giving complete access to maps without incurring charges for streaming data. I always despaired at people who would sign up to a new Nokia device, only to subscribe to some sub standard network offering that generally incurred a recurring monthly charge, when Nokia Maps offered a much better solution.

Pretty much the only charge involved with Nokia Maps was the license for utilising voice activated turn by turn navigation, and traffic alerts or city guides. Well, now even *that* is free. For ever. Not a special promotion, not a limited time deal, Nokia are going to be giving access to customers with compatible devices, free maps, free traffic alerts, free navigation, free city guides, free now, and free forever.

This really is a big deal. Now on your handheld device you can use navigation, and it won’t cost. I think this will really take well with people who like to travel. Just download a map for the country or city you are travelling to and that’s it. You are ready to go. To start off with the new OVI Maps is compatible with the Nokia X6, N97 Mini, E72, E55, E52, 6730 Classic, 6710 Navigator, 5800 Xpress Music and 5230. More devices are expected to be added over the coming weeks and months, as for some products the installer needs to be optimised for available internal memory. Included in the free package are free drive navigation, free walk navigation, free maps and map updates, free event guides, free Lonely Planet guides and free Michelin guides. With such a complete offering, not only will it give Nokia a huge competitive advantage over rival manufacturers, it will also impact on sales of bespoke SatNav units, and all of a sudden, the money you pay to SatNav companies to get their software on your phone seems very expensive indeed.

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As someone with an interest in the mobile industry, the coming months are going to be interesting to observe, as the large manufacturers manoeuvre their position to gain a competitive advantage within the industry. As a consumer, I take delight in being able to enjoy the fruits of competition. Now my ‘mobile phone’ is not just my alarm clock, and my music player, and my camera, it is a full SatNav package, too. And all for free.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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