At the Mobile Word Congress in Barcelona, Nokia has unveiled its initiative to try and repeat the runaway succes of Apple’s App Store with its own mobile storefront dubbed Ovi Store. This was an expected move as the rumors about the Finnish mobile juggernaut’s mobile applications store already spread last week; they were late confirmed to Reuters by industry sources.
Here’s how they pitch it:
“Offering a range of content including applications, games, videos, widgets, podcasts, location-based applications and personalised content, Ovi Store will be available on S60 and Series 40 devices. The first device to include the mobile storefront on board will be the Nokia N97, set to launch in June. Meanwhile tens of millions of existing S60 and Series 40 devices will be able to take advantage of the store from May. Ovi Store is unique in its ability to target content based on where you are, when you’re there, why you are where you are and who else has downloaded similar content.”
That last part, as well as the geo-location features, seems interesting. Ovi Store will include what it calls a ’social discovery’ feature which will enable users to find out which content is being used by their social network peers, as they will automatically be highlighted and made available for download on their devices.
Nokia, still the number-one maker of mobile phones until further notice, expects that the store will reach 300 million users by 2012. According to The Guardian, Nokia also said 70 percent of revenues from the store would go back to software developers.
As from today, content publishers and developers will be able to register for the Ovi Store here, but they will only be able to upload starting next month. The application store will be gradually rolled out, starting next May in nine countries.
A bit late, but still I say this is great news for both Nokia and it’s current(or future) users! Looking forward for this platform.
Not too late. Nokia has locked many Nokia fans. It will be easy to market new store among them
Agreed – I didn’t mean to say “too late”, just “a BIT late”. Smart phones are just starting off (not US, but worldwide) and worldwide Nokia has a very good position, so looking from that perspective – they are right on time
I am not sure that smart phones are just starting off in the rest of the world. Nokia has been a leader in adopting 3G, so content and app delivery is a piece of cake. Traditionally U.S. mobile networks have been a bit old, mainly because the U.S. was the first to adopt mobile phone technology and therefore have slightly dated network infrastructure. As soon as you head out of a city, coverage for 3G is none existent. Take a look at this 3G Coverage map for the US (a bit dated but relevant)
http://www.gear...us-3g-coverage/
…and then the UK.
http://www.gsmw...c=gb&net=o3
Ok, the UK probably only needs one transceiver to cover the island, but it is still a big difference on a percentage basis.
How do I find out if I can use the app store for my nokia – Music Xpress 5800?
Freddie, your 5800 should be compatible with Ovi – I believe it’s an S60 phone. How do you like the 5800, btw?
They do have a huge installed basis of ‘regular’ phones but their attempts to develop smart phones sucked badly so far (owned two of them in the past).
In my mind they’ll have to get a smart device really right with their next (last?) attempt compete with the iPhone/Ap store combo.
The 100 million $ question is on how many mobile platforms people want to develop their apps.
I have an E71 and it’s a fair competitor with a BlackBerry. Really, a hell of a phone. A beast. Around the world, millions of people swear by their Nokias, and the smartphone market has a long way to grow.
I think the million dollar question is how many American mobile developers will get involved considering how Nokia has really fallen off here. I think when they take a look at some of the new phones and the gigantic worldwide user base, they’ll come around.
70% – as they say on publish.ovi.com
will handango survive or not?
Well, hopefully not. The 50% cut they demand is a joke.
This blog has been terrible recently..
I used to check it a few times a day, but now there are less stories and they are simply not as interesting.
@ Terry, you seem to find something of interest on Techcrunch – else you would not keep coming back to comment
It’s nice to see that the AppStore (Apple) has spawned so many others but it also worries me that it’s going to fracture the market and let manufacturers get away with including fewer tools on the core phones.
I wonder if the ’social discovery’ features applications your social network is using on any phone or just Nokia phones that use the Ovi store?
Do they have an App Developer site up yet?
http://forum.nokia.com for tutorials, in-depth device specifications etc.
https://publish.ovi.com for, well, publishing your work.
Nokia is not including Java/MIDP on new phones (like N97). Why? Simple: to sell native S60 titles on OVI.com. Good move!
Bye,
http://twitter....om/alexnautilus
i was getting worried …. no twitter on page yet
ov, ovee, oveeapps, ovystore? why not just call it the nokia app store. this ovee naming just adds more confusion nobody needs. the creation of killer mobile business apps is a myth. i have a ipone for business and i dont need another app besides the ones that came with it. horaay for more games? nokeya needs to get a serious social network internet and mobile footprint if they want to succeed with satisfying user engagement. a ohvee store that will be mostly games is not gonna help. how a company this big can be so lost when it comes to the evolution of internet and mobile location based services is beyond me.
AppsLocator.com – use yourself
I agree.
I’m waiting for it’s Application Developer site up…
Sometimes I feel like they continually try to insult my intelligence.. tisk tisk!
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http://english....lease-in-jan18/
That’s awesome! I think these news depict the growth of mobile advertising. Everybody wants a little bit of users’ attention and money.
I just can’t understand all this nonsense talk about Nokia having an application store for software development named ovi.if that’s how Nokia wants it let it be.All I can note here is simply an innovation or adding a bit of colour to something.The most important thing is to develop software that will promote or enhance the use of it’s products which undoubtably is one of the best in the world today and for some time to come.The world is changing and with this foresight.Nokia is placed in a dynamic position and as a result new ideas and tecnological tools and framework are being developed to meet the ever increasing and changing needs of the society.Therefore,Nokia,I am an apostle of change and I believe in your products.Therefore call it whatever you like,it is welcome and bring on the Nokia N97 because I just can’t wait.You are doing a marvellous job and that is why there will always be critics and in this case you are doing the right thing so get on with it.
We just compared the Nokia Ovi Store with the Apple Appl Store
http://www.fone...comparison.html