Nokia has today announced that they will make their mapping and navigation solution (smart2go) available for free download. Initially available for S60 and Windows Mobile 5 it will later become available for other platforms. It is the same solution that is found in the Nokia N95. Mapping and route planning will be available free, but turn by turn voice navigation will be a premium service. The download will be available from this Saturday.

Read on in the full article (http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/4875_Nokia_announce_free_Maps_solut.php).

Interesting that they're supplying this for Windows Mobile and other platforms too.

Maybe Nokia wants to become a content company as well as a hardware company, which would allow them to spread their bets commercially. They wouldn't be putting all their products in one technological basket.

Is this the answer to Apple's iPhone. Give more content for free? An alternative to iPhone's GMaps that doesn't need an unlimited data plan.

Its worth noting that the smart2go product is what Nokia acquired when they bought gate5. They already had Windows Mobile versions. I imagine it makes commercial sense to continue this. I would also imagine they'll be more emphasis on S60 development... after all it will be bundled with the phones.

"Is this the answer to Apple's iPhone. Give more content for free? An alternative to iPhone's GMaps that doesn't need an unlimited data plan."

I don't think this is meant to sell Nokia hardware at all, otherwise they wouldn't be giving the service away on Windows Mobile (their nearest competitor) and other platforms.

Indeed if they're giving it away on Windows Mobile and other platforms, who's to say that the "other platforms" don't include the iPhone?


"Its worth noting that the smart2go product is what Nokia acquired when they bought gate5. They already had Windows Mobile versions. I imagine it makes commercial sense to continue this."

Aha. Maybe it was a term of the purchase, to make sure that the Windows Mobile contracts were fulfilled?

Whatever the reason, it's quite a surprising situation.

Krisse, Maticek,

Smart2Go always was cross-platform, I think, Nokia bought the product in from Gate5 ages ago. Today is it all coming to fruition.

The answer to the iPhone? Every Java-enabled smartphone in the world can already access Google Maps and have maps, routing and satellite photos for free. I'm not sure what Jobs was trumpeting as new, apart from the touch-control for zooming.....

Smart2Go as another free 2D solution is welcome, of course, but Nokia are hoping to make money from people upgrading to voice instructions, from companies advertising with POIs etc, and from a cut in people using affiliate services. And of course from selling more S60 smartphones to run all this. 8-)

Steve

"The answer to the iPhone? Every Java-enabled smartphone in the world can already access Google Maps and have maps, routing and satellite photos for free. I'm not sure what Jobs was trumpeting as new, apart from the touch-control for zooming....."

Steve Jobs always does this, pretends Apple invented something that has been around for literally years. I wouldn't be surprised if we see the iWheel or iFire turning up soon... ;-)

The problem is he's surrounded by fans who believe him, and maybe he believes himself after a while.

Jobs is a superb salesman, perhaps the best in the high technology world, but he's not an innovator. Although many Apple fans hate to hear this, every triumph by Apple has just been a well-judged repackaging of work done previously by other companies.

The Macintosh's operating system was a repackaging of work done by Xerox, work which was also seen by Microsoft and which prevented Apple from suing MS over Windows' look and feel.

The iPod was a repackaging of work done by many other MP3 player manufacturers. It wasn't the first MP3 player, and it didn't bring anything new to the table.

iTunes was a piece of non-Apple software called SoundJam, which Apple purchased and... you guessed it, repackaged. It apparently wasn't even their first choice of software, but they were unable to obtain rights to the program they really wanted to repackage.

Yea, you mean like Microsoft's claim they they wrote DOS? Come on, these two are both different sides of the same coins. They are marketing geniuses.

No, Apple did sue Microsoft over the gaphical GUI.:
Apple Computer, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp., 35 F.3d 1435 (9th Cir. 1994)
The case was a huge mess and took 'till 1997 to settle when Microsoft agreed to "invest" $150 million into Apple.

Sure the GUI came from an idea Steve saw at Xerox PARC. Microsoft got to see it when they were hired to develop software for the first Mac. Doesn't matter really. The whole thing got us users out of DOS line commands.

The IPod, again nothing new. I had an MP3 player before there were IPods. But what it did again was improve the general user experience and force the industry to make changes.

The IPhone is nothing new as far as features. My Nokia E70 does everything and more than the IPhone. I will most likely not get one. I have my doubts too he will ever reach his magic "10 million" sold by end of 2008. But it will change things and the industry will have to respond. Geniuses or thieves, tech gawds or money grubbing scum, folks like Gates and Jobs do what they do and make changes.

For those that are excited about this, but don't want to have to pay for the turn-by-turn capability, check out amazegps.com. It does everything smart2go will do, including the functionality you have to pay Nokia for, all for free.

Does anyone know if they've pulled the download back in? I can only get hold of the map downloader at the moment.

Hi all,
Whilst this seems like a nice freebie paying for turn by turn instructions is a definite No No for me. I am much happier buying my software from Tom Tom and then using it with no running costs. Unless of course i feel the need for additional services such as the Traffic updates or the speed camera updates, but the speed camera locations can be found for free all over the web but i suppose for those that need an all in one easy solution this may suit them.

Marc

Well, it's almost midday on Saturday and this is still not available. All you get is "Coming Soon". I got the MapLoader software for the PC, but still no app for the phone.

Still no download, con I think..

Huh.

My, My .. We really do have some very impatient people here dont we!

Whilst I dont really get the logic of announcing software for free download that isnt actually ready to download, I'm kinda thinking its a little premature to conclude its a con quite yet.

Wouldn't be the first thing from Nokia thats a little late now is it!!

Just a thought ;-)

maybe its available before midnight..... they should pay more attention to these press releases , why they advertise these if they arent ready, also this search application is still missing that promised device search option...

The site just returns an error message for me (the time is 19:45). Maybe its been released, and everyone has piled in?

the site is ok now but its still' "coming soon"

Sunday,still coming soon! ok,next saturday they probably meant!!

Still waiting, we're well into Sunday already

From the horses mouth: mobilesearch.nokia.com/index.html (the second item) (I've removed the http bit of the url to circumvent posting restrictions...)
Looks like we need to wait untill monday...

This is likely just the first of a whole range of new map/navigation style services. The pace is going to hot up as the map offering becomes just a commodity, the aim of many moving forward will be to make money from POI and other location based forms of on service advertising. User pays is not where the big money is likely to be !

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its monday still no maps and software.....how sad

I work for a software house. If we behaved like this we'd lose clients! Shabby...

With a free app you won't loose many paying clients, though, for a couple day's delay. ;)

yeah ...maybe companies dont value customers and clients anymore. shove anything down their throat and they(customers) will accept

I think that about 70 % of SW comes late to market (source: some SW process book I read a couple of years a go). So Nokia is just following industry standards... ;)

But to be honest, I find it a bit weird that they announced the SW on Feb 8, but didn't manage to put it online Feb 10. Or even on Feb 12 (so far). I'd expect that if the announced date is the day after tomorrow, their schedules would be fool-proof.

Probably some nice Symbian signing problem again...

Nevertheless this is some ridiculous behavior :)

I am very disappointed - This is not good at all - this is a promise from a company like Nokia and there is nothing posted.

Am I missing something here. We are still talking about the free software, which isnt costing you anything, and up to a few days ago hardly anyone even knew was gonna be available anyway?

Yes I think Nokia scored a bit of an own goal with a relatively small number of Symbian literate users, being late releasing the software after announcing it would be out at the weekend but I cant help but think we should just chill a bit, it'll be out when its out :-)

Well, it is now available direct from Smart2Go (http://www.smart2go.com/en/) but the Nokia site (http://mobilesearch.nokia.com/link?cid=PLAIN_TEXT_9054) has now changed to "Coming Soon".

Just a shame that the MapLoader software will not not work on XP SP1, as my work PC won't let it run.

It's now up on the site, though only for Windows Mobile and S60 3rd edition devices.

It's now up on the Nokia site (http://mobilesearch.nokia.com) but the download link there for the MapLoader is incorrect and just gets you the .sisx file again !!

Hi, I have been useing the smart2go incl. voice navigation for some time and I have also used Navicore Personal for about 1,5 years. Now they are in the same phone (E70) so it is easy to compare them (useing the same GPS unit). Some comments concerning smart2go:
-loading of maps is really slow
-deleting a certain map from the memory card is not possible. Tried to delete all maps with no success, the Map Loader just stalled and I had to delete some other files on my memory card (1G).
-no speedcam warnings (like in Navicore)
-speed figure (km/h) on the screen is far too small, should be much BIGGER
-voice navigation instruction are often "cut off" and in some cases there are contradictions between the map and the instructions
-the GPS-position at the target differs quite a lot from the real position
as a navigator Navicore is superior to smart2go but there are some nice features so hopefully the updated version is a better one. Waiting for the E90 with integtrated GPS.

Hi, I have been useing the smart2go incl. voice navigation for some time and I have also used Navicore Personal for about 1,5 years. Now they are in the same phone (E70) so it is easy to compare them (useing the same GPS unit). Some comments concerning smart2go:
-loading of maps is really slow
-deleting a certain map from the memory card is not possible. Tried to delete all maps with no success, the Map Loader just stalled and I had to delete some other files on my memory card (1G).
-no speedcam warnings (like in Navicore)
-speed figure (km/h) on the screen is far too small, should be much BIGGER
-voice navigation instruction are often "cut off" and in some cases there are contradictions between the map and the instructions
-the GPS-position at the target differs quite a lot from the real position
as a navigator Navicore is superior to smart2go but there are some nice features so hopefully the updated version is a better one. Waiting for the E90 with integtrated GPS.

This is great software, you don't need a GPS device to navigate, if you get lost or if you wan't to find nearest station etc. Just type in your current street address and you get your location :-D

I use this software to plan my routes when i go to see customers.

8.8kp/s... i no its free but to download just england am lookin at 3 hours!!

This web page is dedicated to all of you who have experienced problem when using MapLoader.
As some of you have noticed the download time when using MapLoader is really long and it takes hours to get the map on your mobile.
As all Mac owners are aware, it is not possible to use the Nokia Map Loader to download the maps to your phone. Following this method below will allow you to install the maps on your phone. It also applies to all those who have encountered problems with connection speed while using MapLoader on their PCs. This method will definitely speed up the whole process. --- nokiamaps.freehostia.com ---
so visit it an enjoy

page still under construction - but I am trying to do my bes to download all the maps for you so you won't have to wait for hours to get them.
usally the download speed there is 180kb/s

This is really a great offer. Thank you very much for your engagement. A question from a beginner. Is it necessary to build folders on the memory card before transferring the files from the computer to the memory card?

Nokia has today announced that they will make their mapping and navigation solution (smart2go) available for free download. Initially available for S60 and Windows Mobile 5 it will later become available for other platforms. It is the same solution that is found in the Nokia N95. Mapping and route planning will be available free, but turn by turn voice navigation will be a premium service. The download will be available from this Saturday.