Nokia to release HTML5 map app

Nokia Maps (aka Ovi Maps), has been a staple on Nokia’s Symbian handsets for several years and arguably a credible rival to Google Maps on other platforms. Thanks to the dying Symbian platform, Nokia has decided to release its new HTML5 map app to all mobile operating systems including Android and iOS.

Currently, Nokia Maps is in beta, which includes nearby POIs (points of interest), accurate walking and driving routes, images for places (where it is available), and place reviews. This web app also provides detailed Satellite images for most of the US and European countries. Whether this is a true competitor to Google Maps is anyone’s best guess.

Honestly, I find it hard to believe that Nokia Maps will become the go-to map app on many people’s phones – particularly Android users. At this point, Google Maps is just too far ahead when comes to features and consumer mindset. Google Maps does pinch to zoom, rre-cache (a feature which lets users download an area around a particular location and cache it for offline access), and 3D viewpoints to name a few. So it’s safe to say that Nokia has a long ways to go, but offering its app as a freebie to users is a pretty good start.

If you want to give this app a test drive, head over to m.maps.nokia.com [site link] to access Nokia Maps Beta on Android and iOS now.

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About The Author

Charles West

Charles West is a self-described music snob and sports fanatic who loves occasional benders with friends and family. He has written about the mobile industry for TMCnet and Androinica. He also writes at his own blog The Trendaholic. You can follow him on Twitter @TheTrendaholic and Google+

Anonymous

At least in Nokia phones you can download entire county for offline browsing. Pinch to zoom? Yeah they’ve got it. 3D also.
Anonymous

who said ovi maps doesn’t have a pinch to zoom or offline maps?
Charles West

Guys, all the features you mentioned are available for Symbian only, not for the new iOS or Android version. Sorry if I wasn’t clear enough.
Anonymous

The 3D rendering technology on Nokia maps makes Google Earth look antiquated. It’s very impressive tech.
Anonymous

pinch to zoom seems to work fine on iPhone4…
Fuck_mr_west

To hell with all fools and idiots who say sy,mbian is dying U Mr. West are u mad symbian is alive u idiot
http://www.facebook.com/rajeshrai Rajesh Rai

To the uninformed and uninitiated, Nokia/Ovi Maps is miles ahead of Google Maps in nearly every feature and practical use.
http://www.facebook.com/rajeshrai Rajesh Rai

To the uninformed and uninitiated, Nokia/Ovi Maps is miles ahead of Google Maps in nearly every feature and practical use.
Anonymous

Charles…Charles, you really do not know what the #!% your talking about. Do you ever do any research on the subjects you write about?

From wikipedia: Nokia Maps on Symbian delivers is both off-line and on-line navigation “in over 180 countries and 46 languages. It has 1) Driving and walking turn-by-turn with international voice guidance, 2) Live traffic rerouting in some countries, 3)Live traffic visualization on the map in some countries 4)Third-party content such as ViaMichelin and Lonely Planet, 5) Location-aware social networking to Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and many other networks, 6) Street maps can be preloaded and used offline, 7) Street maps can be loaded via USB, wifi, BT, or Network to the phone, Weather service, 9) Night View, 10) Satellite Maps, 11) Terrain Maps, 12) 3D buildings, 13) Public Transit Lines, 14) Save favorites, 15) Sync favorites with Nokia Maps on the web.”

The HTML5 browser versions has been launched to extend Nokia Maps to the 1.6 Billion Nokia S40 devices out there! It will of course be available for other OS’s, to include WP, IOS, Android, etc. Yes, this version is much more limited…but consider the device footprint!

As for Symbian, it is curious how both MS and Nokia continue to invest in this platform. Could it be that it’s to both parties interest that this OS, with its shelf life, could serve as a strategic bridge to a later version of WP? A version that can more effectively service price points currently supported by Symbian. Yes, the platform has a defined end of life…but it will continue to develop over the next 2 years before it goes into a maintenance mode. Nokia has already commited to support thru 2016.
Anonymous

Charles…Charles, you really do not know what the #!% your talking about. Do you ever do any research on the subjects you write about?

From wikipedia: Nokia Maps on Symbian delivers is both off-line and on-line navigation “in over 180 countries and 46 languages. It has 1) Driving and walking turn-by-turn with international voice guidance, 2) Live traffic rerouting in some countries, 3)Live traffic visualization on the map in some countries 4)Third-party content such as ViaMichelin and Lonely Planet, 5) Location-aware social networking to Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and many other networks, 6) Street maps can be preloaded and used offline, 7) Street maps can be loaded via USB, wifi, BT, or Network to the phone, Weather service, 9) Night View, 10) Satellite Maps, 11) Terrain Maps, 12) 3D buildings, 13) Public Transit Lines, 14) Save favorites, 15) Sync favorites with Nokia Maps on the web.”

The HTML5 browser versions has been launched to extend Nokia Maps to the 1.6 Billion Nokia S40 devices out there! It will of course be available for other OS’s, to include WP, IOS, Android, etc. Yes, this version is much more limited…but consider the device footprint!

As for Symbian, it is curious how both MS and Nokia continue to invest in this platform. Could it be that it’s to both parties interest that this OS, with its shelf life, could serve as a strategic bridge to a later version of WP? A version that can more effectively service price points currently supported by Symbian. Yes, the platform has a defined end of life…but it will continue to develop over the next 2 years before it goes into a maintenance mode. Nokia has already commited to support thru 2016.
http://www.prjctmobile.com Chris MacDonald

I’m actually pretty shocked at how little coverage this have received so far.