Nokia offering free turn-by-turn navigation on smartphones globally (updated)
By Thomas Ricker 
posted January 21st 2010 4:35AM
posted January 21st 2010 4:35AM
Update: The original San Francisco Chronicle report has been pulled but Google cache caught a bit more saying that Nokia's navigation service is "capable of operating completely offline" unlike Google Navigation which requires data connectivity.
Update 2: Nokia just made the download link live. Hey, where's the N97 and N900 love?
Update 3: And it's official. Starting today, Ovi Maps walk and drive navigation is free across the globe. Drivers receive turn-by-turn voice guidance including lane assistance, traffic information (in 10 countries including the US), and safety camera and speed warnings while pedestrians will be guided on shortcuts through parks and pedestrian-only zones in over 100 cities across the globe. It all works offline too, which should extend battery life and keep that navigation humming even while puttering about in data dead zones without racking up international roaming charges (take that, Google). From March 2010, all new Nokia GPS-enabled smartphones will come installed with the new Ovi Maps application and pre-loaded with local country map data and walk and drive navigation with access to location-aware Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides at no extra cost. Additional premium guides like a weather service and events / movies are also included. Just 10 devices from Nokia's massive catalog are available today -- a list that includes the N97 Mini, 5800 XpressMusic, 5800 navigation edition, E52, E55, E72, 5230, 6710 navigator, 6730 classic and X6.
So what's missing? The N97 and N900 of course. Find out why after the break.
[Thanks, Jussi]
In a call with Michael Halbherr, Nokia's VP of Social Location, we were told that the new Ovi Maps would arrive on the flagship N97 very shortly. It's currently a "software logistics issue" related to the maturity of the N97 device. N900 owners shouldn't hold their breath, though, as Nokia is focusing on bringing its free navigation service to the next generation of Maemo devices. That's not to say that the N900 won't get it eventually, only that it's not currently on the roadmap.
Update: A support note from Nokia was just issued saying that the new Ovi Maps will be released for the N97 on January 28th. [Thanks, Philip, B]
Nokia also gave us some insight into the financials of today's move. Instead of nickel-and-diming its users for individual services, Nokia is taking a "solution pricing" approach that is more attractive to potential customers. In other words, by making the platform more tempting through a robust feature set, Nokia will sell more high-margin smartphones and thus boost the bottom line. A move that certainly makes sense to us. Hey Nokia, high-fives all around! Now check the video for a peek of Ovi Maps in action.
The GAME CHANGER!
@rhezaganteng
Bye Garmin XT...Bye Google Maps.
@rhezaganteng the competition just got higher and higher, next thing you know... every GPS on cellphones are free :D
@rhezaganteng damn right it is. nokia comes through again!
@rhezaganteng
No quite a game changer, but good to see Nokia upping the ante.
@scottkrk
"Nokia will be demonstrating its reach by offering free turn-by-turn directions in 74 countries in 46 languages -- a move that should cover 20 million smartphones globally with Ovi Maps available in over 180 countries."
Say that again ?!?
@rhezaganteng
Here is the link or Nokia's own page for the announcement and details.
http://events.nokia.com/ovimaps/index.html
@Nokia N900
"Nokia will be demonstrating its reach by offering free turn-by-turn directions in 74 countries in 46 languages -- a move that should cover 20 million smartphones globally with Ovi Maps available in over 180 countries."
Basically means the standard Ovi Maps is in 180 countries.
The free turn-by-turn directions is in 74 of those countries.
Thus, 106 countries are covered by Ovi Maps but don't have free turn-by-turn directions support.
The confusion arises from 'a move that should cover'.
@rhezaganteng
A challenger has appeared!
@rhezaganteng - I really dont see how this is goign to work at all since I down own a Nokia.
I mean, WTF.
@POZ Well, maybe you should try one out (with physical keys). ;-)
@rhezaganteng
Definitely a game changer and the reason why Nokia still gets mad props....OUTSIDE of the US & Canada... WORD UP!
@rhezaganteng
Suddenly I think Nokia will still be the king of mobile phones... because of the free GPS guided navigation!
@rhezaganteng Free turn by turn in 70 countries. all availible on one phone. and its preloaded????? WTF thats a game changer???? Google cant even come close. I really really am going to buy a Nokia now. Because i dont buy data plans. this is awesome. They deserve my money. that the thing about the Nokia they can be useful even while you are not online. ^_^ android can do nothing with out a connection.
Another ONE? Too many! First - GOOGLE, now - NOKIA! Who is next? APPLE?
@suland Next all GPS device makers will offer GPS devices for free!
@suland
Probably Microsoft .
@suland WHY ARE WE YELLING!?
Nokia Ovi maps is more reliable than Google maps.
@travisonfire
And it doesn't require a data connection.
@travisonfire
Tested it and it's even more reliable than TomTom, Navigon & German.
@GV2811
Tomtom is hurting..stocks drops 3.7%
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE60K0JQ20100121
@GV2811 I especially liked how you mixed up Garmin with German :)
Nokia biggest cellphone manufacturer ....biggest digital camera manufacturer and now biggest navigation device manufacturer!!!!!
@travisonfire Aye that data connection part is important.
@Pdexter
its true, you wouldn't require data to access maps but you'd probably need data to access live weather, traffic, events updates.
@travisonfire "Nokia Ovi maps is more reliable than Google maps."
Ya but it navigates you up stairs and down stairs, it's trying to kill people in wheel chairs.
@travisonfire
when I used the nokia 95 and paid for the service it was never as reliable as the free google maps
Nice!
Off to test it xD
Free usually wins. Doesn't Nokia actually own NavTeq- the company that others license content from? Sucks to be them, huh?
@byran
Yes, Nokia bought Navteq some time ago with something like 8 billion dollar price tag. Most thought it was expensive move for a business that doesn't really do that huge a profit. I thought back then that this is probably what they are after. Others will have really hard time competing against this.
Sometimes, some things aren't even worth free and that's been my experience with any of Nokia's map service offerings. Their own turn-by-turn services are even worse than the Route 66 guidance, which at times is at best, infuriating.
@Abe Froman
Wow, so all one has to do to get a comment down ranked is state an unpopular opinion, however true it may be. I always wondered...
Nokia Maps is actually one of the best nav systems around, I've had it hacked to work for a years now and it's been the most reliable especially since their last update to Ovi Maps. This is a good move, the bar has been raised, NOW if they only made some good phones to go with it would be great.
@lav1daloca Seriously.
@lav1daloca
Actually, this gives me a lot more reason to consider the Nokia N900 now.
@lav1daloca Aye with the update it works great! Standalone is better still of course, but as a phone GSP works great.
@jasonhaley
Except they aren't offering it on the N900.
Try reading ALL the post.
haha, AWESOME!!
if GARMIN and all others were not going out of business with the same annoucement from google, they certainly are now!
thank you google for starting this, i love you!
@liquidmonkey
I love you too ^_^
@Google
I love capitalism.
@liquidmonkey
I ordered my first Nokia smartphone just a couple of days ago. The timing couldn't have been better.
Thanks Nokia for the free gift!
You know, guys! All I can say is:: THANK YOU, APPLE! For bringing such competition and provoking such steps from market "leaders". Competition..Who wins? WE ARE!
@suland - yeah, because Apple has *anything* to do with this. Riiiiight.
@NewL
Oh absolutely.. Even the recent cold snap in the UK is directly because of the weather altering level of coolness that Apple inspires..
Meteors have been turned from collision with earth because that would harm the beauty that is Apple products..
@NewL
You honestly believe if Apple never came out with the iPhone that this still would have happened??? HAHAHA wow! somebody is drinking a little too much of the iHater koolaid. The iPhone is the biggest competition, the biggest competition the mobile phone market has ever seen to be honest, and carriers are desperate to try and lure as many stragglers as they can, thus free services. Verizon or any other carrier never would have even contemplated backing something like Android, staring point of free Google GPS, if it wasn't for Apple taking all the risk in trying to shift the powers a little between providers and makers and showing what a good device teamed up with a gorgeous UI can do for sales. With Apple dropping the first stone and creating a ripple effect I think it's almost fair to say every mobile phone feature/service/design/etc from here to the end of time will somehow have been influenced by iPhone. Whether you want to agree with that or not is totally up to you and your bias but that fact will always remain.
@High
Apple had nothing to do with this.
It's all down to google.
When google started to offer google maps for free anybody offering maps for a price started to hurt. Only way to compete with somebody offering something for free is to do the same. With Nokia this was a no brainer as they own a map service provider.
@High
Actually Nokia Maps existed as a free application before the iPhone was even announced. The only change from today is that they also made navigation free.
And Nokia's free services have nothing to do with US carriers.
@newone I agree, this is definitely Google's doing. Google wants to set up a competing map service to Navteq and launched Google Maps Navigation in the US as a beta while it gathers POI data from Android users. Either way, it is a great move from Nokia. I would not be surprised if Apple responds in kind. Regardless, consumers benefit. I do wonder, however, how this affects Nokia's profitability. I'm sure they didn't spend $8 billion for Navteq with the intent of just giving away its content.
@KPOM
How is Apple going to respond - do they own their own digital mapping company?