Nokia has today announced that since the launch of the new version of Ovi Maps with free walk and drive navigation, on Thursday 21 January 2010, there have been over 1.2 million downloads with over 20% coming from China.
“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.”
The success of the new version Ovi Maps is a key part of Nokia’s strategy to lead the market in mobile maps, navigation and location-based services. By leveraging its investment in NAVTEQ, Nokia has been able to remove the costs associated with navigation for drivers and pedestrians and is quickly activating a massive user base to which it can offer new location features, content and services.
“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.”
As of 31 January 2010 the top five countries downloading the new version of Ovi Maps were: China, Italy, UK, Germany , Spain . The top five most popular Nokia devices installing the download where: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia N97 , Nokia 5230 and E72.
According to research firm Canalys, the number of people worldwide using GPS navigation on their mobile phones was approximately 27 million at the end of 2009. By the end of February 2010 Nokia estimates that it will have already grown this installed by almost 8% and it expects to grow it further as more smartphones are added to the compatible devices list and it’s marketing campaigns kick-off around the world.
From next month all new Nokia GPS-enabled smartphones will include the new version of Ovi Maps, pre-loaded with local country map data, with high-end walk and drive navigation and access to Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides at no extra cost.
Ovi Maps covers more than 180 countries with car and pedestrian navigation for 74 countries, in 46 languages, and traffic information for more than 10 countries. There are over 6000 3D landmarks for 200 cities around the world. Lonely Planet and Michelin guides have information on more than 1,000 destinations globally.