Nokia launches free version of its mobile Ovi Maps

Nokia is fighting back against Google Maps and pulling the rug out from under anyone who hopes to charge for map services.

The world’s biggest cell phone maker is making the latest version of its Ovi Maps software available for free. It is a strategic move by Nokia, considering that it paid $8.1 billion for navigation firm Navteq in 2007 and it also acquired map-related firm gate5. This is another example of how free business models are sweeping through industry, but Nokia’s hand was forced by Google’s own free Google Maps service.

Makers of global positioning system (GPS) navigation devices are getting disrupted by free map services. Free maps and navigation are becoming a core part of the cell phone platform, much like digital cameras. Services built on top of free maps could generate money. And things like search become much more interesting and effective if they lead you to something that is just around the corner. That’s why our friend Om Malik at Gigaom says that 2010 is shaping up to be the year of location.

Nokia aims to give us contextual information about the things that surround us. The new Ovi Maps let you add location to your Facebook status updates, so you can extend an open invitation for your friends to join you. Nokia has 84 million map-enabled devices. Navigation is available in 74 countries and 46 languages. The new maps will have Lonely Planet and Michelin guides included starting in March. Nokia also says that its maps can be stored inside phones themselves, rather than be constantly streamed over a data connection to the device, as is the case with Google. That means the Ovi Maps consume less data bandwidth.

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