Nokia also announced the release of the Ovi Maps Player API, a simple way to embed the rich and dynamic Ovi Maps experience into any compatible website using basic JavaScript. This opens the Ovi Maps service and technology for third parties wishing to add greater contextual innovation to their websites for a deeper level of integration, sharing and collaboration with their audiences.

With Ovi Maps on the web you can also search for addresses and POIs, find places and save them into Favorites, and organize them into Collections. Check the weather situation and preplan routes for walking or driving – and then save them. Your places, collections and routes can also be synchronized over-the-air between Ovi Maps on your compatible mobile device and Ovi Maps on the web.

The Ovi Maps Beta on the web is accessible at www.maps.ovi.com.
The latest version of the Ovi Maps Beta for your device is available for download at Nokia Betalabs at www.nokia.com/betalabs/maps.

Nokia Maps, with GPS functionality and featuring Location Based Services, enables users to expertly navigate, whether searching for an unfamiliar address in their home city or exploring a vacation destination. Consumers can see the world with on-screen maps for more than 160 countries and millions of points of interest.

With Nokia N-Gage, consumers can easily find, try and buy the best in mobile games with a range of innovative, made-for-mobile titles from Nokia, such as Reset Generation and Dirk Dagger and The Fallen Idol, as well as popular brands from leading 3rd party publishers. Consumers are able to take their mobile gaming experience to new heights as they connect with other users through the N-Gage Arena community.

Rogers Wireless provides wireless voice and data communications services across Canada to more than 7.5 million customers.

“Lonely Planet is a well known brand amongst travellers and stands for adventure and editorial independence,” said Maximilian Schierstadt, head of media partnerships, Nokia context based services. “We are very excited to offer their expert local recommendations and itineraries to our Nokia Maps consumers, which will allow Nokia to continue to innovate and enable compelling location aware experiences.”

The downloads are available from today, cost EUR 7.99, and can be found in the Guides section in the Extras menu. Nokia Maps 2.0 uses vector maps provided by Navteq and TeleAtlas. Nokia Maps now has maps covering over 200 countries, with over 70 of them navigable. Maps can be downloaded over the air directly to selected devices or by using the Nokia Map Loader on a PC.

A partial list of the updated features in Nokia Maps 2.0 includes:

DRIVE:

• Improved optional Car Navigation equals PND-level car navigation experience with faster routing.
• Easy-to-use, updated User Interface features including a new navigation carousel with pre-defined navigation views – i.e. navigation, arrow, bird-eye.
• navigation features: signposts, multi-stop route planner

WALK:

• Optional pedestrian navigation efficiently walks you from A to B with visual guidance. It helps you to locate yourself by giving information about the surrounding buildings, streets and parks and, if the device supports it, notifies the direction you are walking.
• Nokia Maps 2.0 includes public transportation information (station entrances) data in 17 cities with localized icons for stops.
• Advanced multi-sensor positioning using A-GPS, and pedestrian orientation using the compass feature (Nokia 6210 Navigator needed for built-in compass usage)

DISCOVER:

• Satellite images with hybrid rendering overlays for selected cities worldwide provide real aerial views on your mobile.
• Signature “one-box search” allows you to search through places, addresses, restaurants, nightlife, outdoor, accommodation.
• New premium multi-media city guides including features photos, video, audio streams.

Nokia Maps 2.0 uses vector maps provided by Navteq and TeleAtlas, Nokia Maps now has maps covering over 200 countries, with over 70 of them navigable. Maps can be downloaded over the air directly to selected devices or by using the Nokia Map Loader on a PC. A new beta version of the Nokia Map Loader is available on the Nokia Betalabs web site. For download and more information, please visit http://www.maps.nokia.com

ARC Transistance Traffic Information services aggregate the real time road and traffic conditions of 16 countries in Europe, and growing. The leading navigation industry players also use the ARC Transistance Traffic Information services to enhance the routing guidance and navigation experience of their customers.