Today’s big news from Nokia is that they’re making walk and drive navigation free on their smartphones with the new version of Ovi Maps. These features used to cost extra. The new Ovi Maps is immediately available for download at nokia.com/maps for 10 Nokia handsets, including the popular Nokia N97 mini, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia E72, with more Nokia smartphones expected to be added in the coming weeks.
Nokia devices with built-in GPS releasing after March 2010 will include the new version of Ovi Maps, pre-loaded with local country map data, with high-end walk and drive navigation and access to Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides at no extra cost.
Screenshots
Navigation and 3D maps on Ovi Maps
Lonely Planet and Michelin guide on Ovi Maps
Nokia is aiming to make the best maps with voice guided navigation available worldwide for free. The new Ovi Maps will support turn-by-turn voice guidance for 74 countries in 46 languages, and traffic information for over 10 countries, as well as detailed maps for over 180 countries at no extra cost. I think that’s a big challenge to Android and Google who are offering free Google Maps Navigation, but only officially in the United States on phones that run Android 1.6 and higher.
“Why have a mobile phone and a separate car navigation system that works in only one country or region,” asked Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President of Nokia. “Put the two together, make it free, make it global and you have something that is truly useful and can help you get round almost any city in the world whether you’re on foot or driving.”
I was also surprised to see that some regions now support text-to-speech. This means the supported Nokia devices can tell its users the name of the exit or street. Go ahead. Try it out.