Ovi Maps, with free navigation, downloaded 1.4 million times

Published by Rafe Blandford at 9:01 UTC, February 3rd 2010

Nokia has today announced that the new version of Ovi Maps, which was announced on Thursday 21st January, has been downloaded 1.4 million times. The 1 million downloads figure was reached just one week after the launch. The new version of Ovi Maps offers worldwide pedestrian and car navigation, along with other premium features including traffic information, city guides and more, all for free, forever.

The numbers should be seen in the context of the number of currently compatible devices, around 20 million, which means there has been a conversion rate of 7%. That is an unprecedented number for a 'new' Nokia service, especially as it requires an active decision by to user to download and install the new version. Moreover, the download and conversion numbers will continue to grow significantly throughout the coming weeks. From March, all GPS-enabled smartphones will ship with the new version and local country maps pre-loaded.

Maps Screenshot

Nokia says that the top countries for downloads were China, Italy, UK, Germany and Spain. It is interesting to see China heading this list, which demonstrates that Ovi Maps is enjoying success in both the emerging and mature markets. The most popular devices downloading the new version were the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia N97, Nokia 5230 and Nokia E72.

"We’re averaging a download a second, 24 hours a day," said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Nokia. "When we announced free walk & drive navigation we knew it would be a game-changer. The number of people now using their Nokia for navigation, and as a result looking for more location-aware software, is growing faster than even we predicted."

"This is great news for our 3rd party application developers. Within a matter of days there is an installed base of more than 1 million active users all potentially hungry for new and innovative location-aware apps," continued Anssi Vanjoki. "For the operators too there is a growing opportunity to sell more data-plans and a complete navigation package to existing and new customers."

You can download Ovi Maps from the Nokia website, via the 'SW Update' application on your phone or via Ovi Store. Currently, compatiable phones include the Nokia 97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition, Nokia E52, Nokia E55, Nokia E72, Nokia 5230, Nokia 6710 Navigator, Nokia 6730 classic and Nokia X6. Nokia plans to extend this list on a week by week basis, so watch this space.


 

Filed: Home > News > Ovi Maps, with free navigation, downloaded 1.4 million times

Platforms: S60 3rd Edition, S60 5th Edition

Categories: Software, Services

News Discussion

vuaglio
when are they going to open up other phone models as well? I have E71, my Dad 6210 Navigator and my bro has E66 and we are all eagerly awaiting for this free navigation to be compatible with our phones as well.

That would add a great added value to our phones that we already love.
joeyfallon
That's great - Nokia has some kick ass servers to handle huge volume downloads.

Umm ... Does this mean we can have our firmware updates at the same time now please ? Still waiting for my N82 and E72 to show up from months ago.
expalmandse
The take on the maps will still be higher if 3 Network in the uk allowed models like 5800 to get the required updates to the firmware (FW 4) so Maps 3 could run.

This is highly dissappointing. I normally do not stress too much by their delays in releasing firmware updates, but this time we are talking a change that has a high monetary value as it includes maps and several other important revisions

3: Please release the change so we can enjoy. This is value for your network FOR FREE!
Unregistered
And my software updater displays a error message every time I use it too.
Brendan Donegan
@expalmandse

5800 DOES NOT need v40 vfirmware to run Ovi maps! It only needs v31. I know this because my colleagues 5800 is a Vodafone (so's mine, but I de-branded it) and he's running it (and loving it).
Seft
Quote:
Originally Posted by expalmandse View Post
The take on the maps will still be higher if 3 Network in the uk allowed models like 5800 to get the required updates to the firmware (FW 4) so Maps 3 could run.

This is highly dissappointing. I normally do not stress too much by their delays in releasing firmware updates, but this time we are talking a change that has a high monetary value as it includes maps and several other important revisions

3: Please release the change so we can enjoy. This is value for your network FOR FREE!
From UKGadgeteer:

"What are they [3] doing about the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic firmware problem that prevents the use of the new free Ovi Maps?

Since Nokia announced the new Ovi Maps clients, they [3] have been working directly with Nokia to understand the reasons for the minimum firmware requirements, and 3UK had already received from Nokia a new firmware with all the 3UK customisations required for release. This would be tested with some urgency, and so (assuming there are no problems) this will be available as soon as both companies are in a position to release it. The testing takes at least a few weeks, so you’ll need to wait a little longer, but it is on the way…."
Unregistered
Not surprising to see the USA is not in the list of top countries (although I know the main reason for this is the low take up of Nokia phones), as the driving directions over here are so bad I have had to revert to my old satnav.

I was on an Interstate yesterday and she suggested I pull off and go through a rest area and then back on the interstate rather than stay on the road :-) On another occasion she suggested that rather than turn left at some traffic lights (onto a major road) that I continue for 800 ft, do a U-turn, come back and turn right.

I wonder if Navtech have skipped a bit on their USA analysis ?
Unregistered
But have Nokia Marketing men been slow again - yesterday I was prowling the mobile shops in Bristol trying to decide on a replacement for my N73, probably an N97 Mini as I love the size/format but of course worried about RAM/processor (sluggisness is the most annoying thing about my N73 ). Not a single sales assistant mentioned free Ovi Maps. One told me the Mini had maps but the "Sat Nav" costs extra - in this and other cases when I said I thought the Navigation was free every sales assistant was unaware of it (unless they have some reason to keep it a secret). When I worked in retail the best manufacturers had reps who made sure we knew about exciting new things BEFORE customers came in and asked about them. I am sure the London Press day was a nice fun junket for the marketing team but what about the more mundane but important point of sale ?

In most shops Apple have big stand alone displays promoting iPhone but Nokia cannot manage a single poster advertising this great new free offering, that should be selling lots more Nokia phones. That would be the same Apple company which has the whole World talking about Apps, when a number of Nokia users have been aware of those for years - just Nokia did not fid a way to get it into the general public conciousness.

btw: I know most phone shop staff talk all sorts of uninformed rubbish and give lots of false information regarding contracts but they do want to sell phones so should be keen on this.
Seft
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Not surprising to see the USA is not in the list of top countries...the driving directions over here are so bad I have had to revert to my old satnav.
I drove from LA to Chicago over a fortnight last spring with Nokia Maps guiding the way. Aside from some problems using 'approximate locations' from Google Maps (hardly Nokia Maps' fault) it was pretty much trouble-free. Perhaps map quality varies from state to state?
raffmonster
Just one simple reaction


I have sold my Garmin and bought myself a windscreen dock for my N97.Can't believe, it just works.
theshocker
Quote:
Originally Posted by vuaglio View Post
when are they going to open up other phone models as well? I have E71, my Dad 6210 Navigator and my bro has E66 and we are all eagerly awaiting for this free navigation to be compatible with our phones as well.

That would add a great added value to our phones that we already love.
I doubt that's ever gonna happen...Nokia's business strategy is to only plan for the future...in other words they don't give a **** about current customers. That's why the new Ovi Maps was released on such a limited number of handsets, they just want people with older handsets to upgrade. If they really wanted to give everyone free navigation, they would just activate it for all older versions of Maps.

But don't get me wrong, I was ecstatic that I was getting free navigation on my N97. But I always thought it should've been free to begin with, back when the N95 was released. And we all know Nokia never would've made this update if it wasn't for Google Maps Navigation. If Nokia ever hopes to be on top again they need to stop following and start innovating.
tgdub
It is a bit of a shame that the free nav isn't available on older models as yet, especially given that I have an E71 at the moment. As Rafe points out above, Nokia have said that they will extend the list of phones eligible for the free nav on a weekly basis. What are the odds of E71, E66 or other older (but in no way defunct!) models being included in the first batch of additional eligible phones? Can anyone from Nokia shed any light on this?
expalmandse
There are several models, i.e. E71, that are oldish (in the power user mindset & market freshness) but are still selling strong. This model in pparticular is somehow aimed to a more afluent segment than some other models already offered with free maps (i.e. 5800).

I guess Nokia dilema comes from opening the gates to all S60 v.3 FP1. (quite some oldies there). If they do not want to do it (too passe), they should issue open licenses to the "still on the shop" models so they can have free navigation with their current software (rather good still). In that way they will not need to polish the software to the level of Maps V3, and leave some interetest in upgrading.

My E71 is still on contract (as there are a lot of people out there), and I will only upgrade after it is finished. With contracts of 18 and 24 months Nokia should give some support along that time at least!
spaceprobe
I would love to have it on my UK sim free 5800, but since its still stuck on firmware v21 it cant happen. Thanks Nokia for providing the worst customer support of any large company I have ever come across
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by spaceprobe View Post
I would love to have it on my UK sim free 5800, but since its still stuck on firmware v21 it cant happen. Thanks Nokia for providing the worst customer support of any large company I have ever come across
Oh yes it can happen. It's not even difficult.
KPOM
This is evidence that if you offer something for free, people will take you up on it.
Dead1nside
It's great Nokia's announced this but it's still not available for my N82, why?

N85 still doesn't have a firmware upgrade on Orange UK, why?

The Ovi Store in general is pretty useless for the N82 there's simply nothing there for it, including Ovi Maps.
spaceprobe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
Oh yes it can happen. It's not even difficult.
That's not the message I get when I try to install it, 'not compatible with firmware, upgrade to latest version'. Would love to if only Nokia would issue it!
Unregistered
Just for your information, i've got free navigation on my n95 with maps v2.0. I'm in switzerland it the moment, if that makes any difference. I've been reading these articles, slightly frustrated by the fact that the n95 hasn't got free navigation yet, and thought i'd have a play with it....

I loaded maps, connected to my wireless network...&...it will allow me to do "walk to" or "drive to" routes, i've been able to download voice navigation, and have the option to download traffic info, all free.....not sure what i've stumbled upon, but if it helps someone else then great!

Jon
Unregistered
correction to the above post.....the traffic info still requires a paid for license.....sorry for the false info on that
Unregistered
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dead1nside View Post
It's great Nokia's announced this but it's still not available for my N82, why?

N85 still doesn't have a firmware upgrade on Orange UK, why?
1. because its an old handset now
2. because orange puts their own custom firmware on their handsets and it is entirely Oranges' falt there is no update

Quote:
Just for your information, i've got free navigation on my n95 with maps v2.0. I'm in switzerland it the moment, if that makes any difference. I've been reading these articles, slightly frustrated by the fact that the n95 hasn't got free navigation yet, and thought i'd have a play with it....

I loaded maps, connected to my wireless network...&...it will allow me to do "walk to" or "drive to" routes, i've been able to download voice navigation, and have the option to download traffic info, all free.....not sure what i've stumbled upon, but if it helps someone else then great!

Jon
it is most likely just a free week or month trial
Unregistered
I have a Vodafone branded N97 and wanted to get the free navigation which is advertised on Nokia and Ovi websites. I tried to install new firmware updates but I can't, this also means I can't update Ovi maps either. I rang Vodafone, but they don't have a clue or don't want to offer advice (even told me their tech dept said it was impossible to debrand N97). Anyone had a similar problem?

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