Nokia shapes the future of social location with enhanced Ovi Maps and the release of the Ovi Maps Player API

San Jose, CA, USA - Nokia today presented the next step in its social location journey with the announcement of the latest version of Ovi Maps, fast becoming a unique, dynamic and personalized canvas - sychronized and shared between the mobile and the web - upon which people will be able to add personal location-based content. This also marks a shift from the one-size-fits-all static bitmap maps commonly found on the web, to using Nokia's dynamic vector-graphic maps as a browser for all your personal map experiences - whether on the web or on your compatible mobile device.

Nokia also announced the release of the Ovi Maps Player API, a simple way to embed the rich and dynamic Ovi Maps experience into any compatible website using basic JavaScript. This opens the Ovi Maps service and technology for third parties wishing to add greater contextual innovation to their websites for a deeper level of integration, sharing and collaboration with their audiences. Now websites like lonelyplanet.com or social networking sites can include Ovi Maps which can be personalized with their users' collections of content and then synchronized onto their compatible mobile devices.

"Ovi Maps is evolving from a consumer service to a live and dynamic platform for location-based services and content shared between the mobile device and the web. By adding this richer dimension to Ovi Maps we are both creating new experiences for consumers and new opportunities for developers," says Michael Halbherr, vice president, Social Location services at Nokia. "The Ovi Maps Player API offers an open and easy-to-use map browser based on simple web technologies that can be embedded into any website. This is the first step toward an ecosystem where developers can access Nokia's unique contextual assets, such as location, to create mobile applications that will redefine how we use our mobile devices. "

"We are thrilled to be one of the first companies to be working with the Ovi Maps Player API", says Stephen Palmer, President, Lonely Planet, EMEA. "This is a transformational partnership, which makes Lonely Planet content available regardless of time or place. Working with this new platform adds value to the Lonely Planet offering and together with Nokia we will help more travellers connect profoundly with their world, everyday."

The future of mapping is here

The latest version of Ovi Maps application on your device is enhanced through additional features and services, opening up a new world of possibilities with better maps than ever before: high resolution satellite and terrain maps - both in 2D and 3D views - 3D landmarks for over 200 cities, rotation, tilting, night view, and fly-overs and fly-throughs. Ovi Maps also offers enriched POI information by Lonely Planet, Michelin and Wcities, as well as a weather service that provides 24 hour and 5-day forecasts. Walk from one place to another by using Walk, pedestrian navigation with routing optimized for those on foot, providing better orientation in a city or outdoors. Or use Drive, fully fledged car navigation with enhanced safety and real-time traffic information covering now more countries.

With Ovi Maps on the web you can also search for addresses and POIs, find places and save them into Favorites, and organize them into Collections. Check the weather situation and preplan routes for walking or driving - and then save them. Your places, collections and routes can also be synchronized over-the-air between Ovi Maps on your compatible mobile device and Ovi Maps on the web.

The Ovi Maps Beta on the web is accessible at www.maps.ovi.com.

The latest version of the Ovi Maps Beta for your device is available for download at Nokia Betalabs at www.nokia.com/betalabs/maps.

Unleashing the innovation with 'Apps on Maps' contest

As one of the first steps to opening Ovi Maps towards developers, Nokia is inviting ideas for services and content on Maps through the Calling All Innovators contest in a specific category: "Apps on Maps". The finalists will have a chance to work closely with Nokia to develop their ideas into applications and be part of shaping the developer tools. In addition to winning cash prizes, the finalists will also have a chance to see their apps distributed via the Ovi Store.

More information on the soon to be launched Ovi Maps Player API beta program and 'Apps on Maps' category in the 2009 Calling All Innovators contest is available at http://forum.nokia.com/ovi.