Nokia has launched a free version of the Ovi Maps application available for its variety of smartphones.
The latest release, offering both turn-by-turn and pedestrian navigation at no cost, has the potential to shake-up the industry with Nokia claiming the launch could "nearly double the size of the current mobile navigation market".
Nokia's Ovi Maps service, initially available on 10 of its handsets, offers free turn-by-turn navigation guidance for a massive 74 countries. The service is available in 46 languages, with detailed maps for over 180 countries (and traffic data in 10 of those), as well as safety camera and speed warnings. Free access to Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides is also available, as well as 6,000 3D landmarks for 200 cities around the world.
Nokia's announcement comes just months after Google shook the world of GPS navigation by announcing Google Maps Navigation - a free navigation application designed for Android 2.0 devices. However, unlike Google Maps Navigation, Nokia's Ovi Maps makes use of a combination pre-loaded and online maps to allow for offline use and lower bandwidth charges.
Following the launch of Nokia's free turn-by-turn navigation just hours ago, shares in Dutch navigation specialist TomTom have already slipped by 3.7 per cent.
Commenting on the launch, Nokia's executive vice president Anssi Vanjoki said:
"Nokia is the only company with a mobile navigation service for both drivers and pedestrians that works across the world. Unlike the legacy car navigation manufacturers, we don't make you buy maps for different countries or regions even if you're only visiting for a few days. We offer both navigation and maps free of charge, with all the high-end functionality and features that people now expect."
Ovi Maps is available immediately at nokia.com/maps, and currently supports the following Nokia handsets: N97 mini, 5800 XpressMusic, 5800 Navigation Edition, E52, E55, E72, 5230, 6710 Navigator, 6730 classic and X6. Support for the company's flagship N97 is expected to follow shortly.
Check out the Nokia-provided promotional video below and hit the press release for all the details.
