Ovi Maps passes 1 million downloads since free (See all news)

It was only a week ago Nokia announced its Ovi Maps software will be available free of charge for all compatible Nokia GPS phones and now the company revealed their navigation software has been downloaded over 1.4 million times. The service also underwent a major overhaul last week when turn-by-turn directions for walking and driving, text-to-speech notifications, 6,000 3D points of interest, and content from third-party companies were added.

"We're averaging a download a second, 24 hours a day," said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Nokia. "When we announced free walk & drive navigation we knew it would be a game-changer. The number of people now using their Nokia for navigation, and as a result looking for more location-aware software, is growing faster than even we predicted."

The new updated version of Ovi Maps includes high-end functions such as turn-by-turn voice control for 74 countries, traffic information in more than 10 countries and maps for over 180 countries. Also, as previously announced, all new Nokia GPS-enabled smartphones launched starting March will include Ovi Maps with free navigation, plus free access to Michelin and Lonely Planet travel guides.

As of 31 January 2010 the top five countries downloading the new version of Ovi Maps were: China, Italy, UK, Germany and Spain. The top five most popular Nokia devices installing the download were: Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia N97, Nokia 5230 and Nokia E72.

"There is a huge appetite for GPS navigation on mobile phones. We estimate there were already 25.9 million people actively using GPS navigation on their mobile phones at the end of 2009," said Chris Jones, VP & Principal Analyst at research firm Canalys.

We have to say we’re not surprised to see consumers worldwide responding so favorably to a free offering as it makes the smartphone they already have even smarter and more useful. Let us hope upcoming Nokia smartphones will not be more expensive than they would have been if free navigation had not been included in the retail package.