Rogers is positioning the device as a phone that helps you get things done, while having fun doing it. It comes with the obvious goodies: you get full access to the OVI Store, which will get you ringtones, wallpapers, games, and applications for your device. It will also come with OVI Maps pre-loaded (and a car dock as an included accessory, apparently), so you can use your new phone as a stand-alone GPS unit when you need it.

As for pricing, you’ll be looking at $99.99 with a new, three-year contract. This, according to Rogers, is just a promotional plan, though, and you will need to sign up for a $45 monthly voice and data plan to get it. For a two-year contract? You’ll need to drop $399.99. While a one year will see you spending $449.99, and without a contract you’ll drop $499.99. Anyone out there thinking about picking up the N97 Mini?

[via MobileSyrup]

The collaboration deal will see a large collection of Nokia’s services fused, and in some cases replaced with, Yahoo! services. For example, Yahoo! Maps is going to be “powered by” OVI, and Nokia’s devices will be the sole proprietary handsets providing Yahoo! Maps around the world.

And then you’ve got OVI services like Mail and Chat are now going to be “powered by” Yahoo!. You’ll be able to log into all of the services from one location, using OVI ID, which should hopefully make it easier for everyone wanting to use the services. (And no, you don’t get a choice.) The first markets to get the services will be getting them in the second half of this year, and it will rolled out gradually over the course of 2011.

Press Release:

Global strategic alliance enables industry leaders to leverage strengths in e-mail, instant messaging, maps and navigation across PC and mobile devices

New York, NY, USA – Today, Yahoo! and Nokia announced a worldwide strategic alliance to extend the reach of their industry leading online services and offer people rich experiences that keep them connected to their world and the world around them.
Building on more than five years of collaboration, Nokia and Yahoo! ® will leverage each others’ strengths in e-mail, instant messaging and maps and navigation services, to provide consumers with access to world-class experiences on both PC and mobile devices.
As part of the alliance:

- Nokia will be the exclusive, global provider of Yahoo!’s maps and navigation services, integrating Ovi Maps across Yahoo! properties, branded as “powered by Ovi.”

- Yahoo! will become the exclusive, global provider of Nokia’s Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat services branded as “Ovi Mail / Ovi Chat powered by Yahoo!”

- Nokia and Yahoo! plan to work on ID federation between their services, beginning by making it easy for people to use their Ovi user IDs across select Yahoo! properties to easily access the online content and services they need.

“Delivering great user experiences — both online and on your mobile – is what this alliance is all about,” said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO, Nokia. “We’re enabling millions of Yahoo! customers in key markets including North America to discover the unique capabilities that Ovi Maps brings.

Similarly, Yahoo!’s online expertise will bring exciting mail and messaging enhancements to millions of Ovi Mail customers across almost every country around the world, many of whom will have their first Internet experience on their mobile.”
“What a combination,” said Carol Bartz, CEO, Yahoo!. “We’re excited to expand the reach of our best-in-class Mail and Messenger services, bringing personalized experiences to more people across the mobile web, particularly in emerging markets where we are seeding the next generation of Yahoo! users. At the same time, we believe Nokia’s strength and continued investment in maps and navigation will greatly enhance our existing products, enabling us to focus on areas that are core to our business.”

Together, Yahoo! and Nokia will continue to deliver compelling Internet experiences that address the core needs of consumers, developers, operators and advertisers. The companies will utilize their respective global distribution advantages and brand recognition across consumer audiences.

Select, co-branded service offerings are expected to become available from the second half of 2010, with global availability expected in 2011.

Nokia is the world’s largest mobile device manufacturer, with hundreds of millions of devices sold each year and a leader in digital mapping, with continuing investment and innovation focused on developing comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, now covering 77 countries in 46 languages. With more than 600 million users of Yahoo!-branded sites per month, Yahoo! is a global Internet powerhouse, a one-stop web destination enabling consumers to enjoy their online life anywhere and everywhere – all customized for their interests. As one of the leading Internet brands, Yahoo! is focused on growing its audience by providing seamless web experiences across PC and mobile devices.

Note to editors: Media materials, including a webcast replay, can be found at pressroom.yahoo.com and www.nokia.com/press.

“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.”

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.

From next month, all new Nokia GPS-enabled smartphones will include the new version of Ovi Maps, pre-loaded with local country map data, with high-end walk and drive navigation and access to Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides at no extra cost.

Ovi Maps covers more than 180 countries with car and pedestrian navigation for 74 countries, in 46 languages, and traffic information for more than 10 countries. There are more than 6000 3D landmarks for 200 cities around the world. Lonely Planet and Michelin guides have information on more than 1,000 destinations globally.

“We had a chance to create a completely new type of mobile game with Nokia, which utilizes real life maps” says Tero Virtala, CEO of RedLynx. “As with previous titles developed for Nokia, Ovi Maps Racing has really allowed us to augment our knowledge pool.”

In addition to creating tracks based on their location, players can race in offline mode and customize tracks within the available in-game maps. The game also includes 20 pre-defined tracks with global high scores in well-known European cities – such as Berlin, Amsterdam and London.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This Ovi Maps update can be downloaded by N97 users who have installed phone software version 2.0.x. The new Ovi Maps is available through the software update client in the device. You simply open the Applications Folder, Software Update client (big green arrow) and choose the new Ovi Maps from the list.

This update is available now for users who have already updated their Nokia N97 to the latest software version (2.0.x). If you haven’t updated your software, or you’re not sure what version you’re using, you can check by typing *#0000# into your device. If the device isn’t up to date, you can update it by using the Nokia Software Updater or you can check for the latest version on Nokia.com/softwareupdate.

Other supported devices include

• Nokia N97 mini,
• Nokia 5800 XpressMusic,
• Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition,
• Nokia E52,
• Nokia E55,
• Nokia E72,
• Nokia 5230,
• Nokia 6710 Navigator,
• Nokia 6730 classic,
• Nokia X6

[via Nokia]

Ovi Maps is immediately available for download for 10 Nokia handsets, including the popular Nokia N97 mini, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia E72, with more Nokia smartphones expected to be added in the coming weeks. In the meantime, current owners of Nokia smartphones that are compatible with the new Ovi Maps can download it free of charge from www.nokia.com/maps.

From March 2010, new Nokia GPS-enabled smartphones will include the new version of Ovi Maps, pre-loaded with local country map data, with walk and drive navigation and access to Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides at no extra cost.

Compatible Devices

• Nokia N97 mini,
• Nokia 5800 XpressMusic,
• Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition,
• Nokia E52,
• Nokia E55,
• Nokia E72,
• Nokia 5230,
• Nokia 6710 Navigator,
• Nokia 6730 classic,
• Nokia X6

[via slashgear]

What’s best, both mobile (Symbian and Maemo) and web are built upon the same set of Ovi Services and API’s. The new web-based toolbox utilizes standard web-based technologies including HTML, CSS and Javascript. The SDK Beta is available now by invitation, just go to Forum Nokia to register.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Nokia Beta Labs explained:

Right from the home screen of your Nokia N97, you can lifecast the street address you are at, and your friends can see your location on a map. You can also share a meaningful location from the nearby places of interest or your favourite place that you have saved on Ovi MapsBeta. To show your friends what a great spot you are exploring, you can take a photo, and attach it to your Facebook post.

This is an exclusive preview of a new Ovi service for the first early birds. Download the Ovi lifecasting widget NOW to make sure you are one of the first exclusive beta users!

Download Ovi Lifecasting widget here

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.