Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Development
    • Development
    • IT Management
    • Mobile
    • Networking

    Nokia’s Ovi Store a Potential Apple, Google Challenger

    By
    Nicholas Kolakowski
    -
    May 21, 2009
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Nokia continues to roll out applications for its Ovi Store, including a new one called Ovi Maps that allows for two-dimensional and three-dimensional viewing of landmarks, night mode, language functionality, and satellite and terrain views.

      As with applications from the Apple App Store or the Blackberry App World, the Ovi Store allows programs to be downloaded to company-specific smartphones. Like the App Store, Ovi has opened itself up to developers; the company offers an API for Ovi Maps that allows for modifications and the ability to embed Ovi features in a Website.

      The open-development aspect of the application could make it a potential competitor to Google Maps. Google has been tweaking its Google Maps for Mobile application, making it easier for the smartphone community to find local businesses.

      Developers working with the open-source Ovi Maps Player API can participate in Nokia’s contest for “the best Apps on Maps solution,” with a $30,000 prize fund and premium application placement on the Ovi Store for the winner.

      “This competition looks set to harness the power of open source, and a raft of developers to create new and innovative uses for Ovi Maps,” said an announcement on the Nokia Conversations Website.

      Despite the massive amounts of press devoted in the United States to the Apple iPhone and Research In Motion’s BlackBerry line of smartphones, Nokia held the overall No. 1 position in the worldwide smartphone market in 2008, according to research firm Gartner.

      In the fourth quarter of 2008, Nokia finished with 40.8 percent of the worldwide market share, down from 50.9 percent from the same quarter in 2007, followed by RIM with 19.5 percent and Apple with 10.7 percent. HTC and Samsung rounded out the top five with 4.3 and 4.2 percent market share, respectively.

      The question, however, is how much of a challenge Noka’s store represents to Apple or RIM.

      “It depends on how you look at the global market,” Neil Strother, an analyst with Forrester, said in an interview. “Potentially, Nokia could do something similar [to Apple] because they have a big global footprint, but right now the momentum is with Apple.”

      “Apple’s set a high bar [with the App Store],” Strother added, “and it’s a horse race to see who can catch up to the leader. Nokia has to ask itself: Is the store itself easy to use? Is the interface easy to use? Can you educate users on it, and leave it easy for them to get?”

      Nicholas Kolakowski
      Nicholas Kolakowski is a staff editor at eWEEK, covering Microsoft and other companies in the enterprise space, as well as evolving technology such as tablet PCs. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Playboy, WebMD, AARP the Magazine, AutoWeek, Washington City Paper, Trader Monthly, and Private Air. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×