Nokia offer free sat-nav to customers

Ovi Maps is now free on compatible Nokia phones

Nokia has announced it will offer free sat-nav software to customers who own one of their compatible smartphones. Users with GPS-enabled Nokia devices will be able to download the full ‘turn by turn’ navigation software for 74 countries for free via the company’s Ovi Store.

GPS technology has become more common in mobile phones lately however full sat-nav capabilities have, until now, required additional and expensive application purchases.

Nokia’s announcement is seen as an attempt by the company to gain the edge over its rivals in Apple and Google, both of which are increasingly encroaching on the Finnish company’s core market.

However the real impact of this new offer may be on sat-nav companies like TomTom and Garmin as their revenues rely heavily on customers paying for navigation services.

Nokia entered the navigation business in 2007 when it acquired Navteq for €6.5bn. Both Apple and Google have also made maps and navigation acquisitions in the past however neither company offers full sat-nav products globally at this time.

Industry eyes have now turned to Apple’s media event on the 27th of January to see if the company responds in any way to Nokia’s latest move.

Nokia phones currently capable of receiving the free download are:
N97 mini
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition
Nokia E52
Nokia E55
Nokia E72
Nokia 5230
Nokia 6710 Navigator
Nokia 6730 classic
Nokia X6