Nokia announces free Ovi Maps sat-nav app for smartphones

Smartphone sat-nav looks like its going to be a serious feature this year — Google is giving away its turn-by-turn application with Android 2.0 and CoPilot just announced a free CoPilot Directions iPhone app for the US. Now Nokia is getting in on the action and it announced this morning that its Ovi Maps app is now a free download for its handsets.

Ovi Maps 3.0 is available now and provides turn-by-turn navigation for both walking and driving, with spoken direction for 74 countries, in 46 languages.

Maps can be downloaded and stored locally to cut down on mobile data use (not to mention battery life), but an online component supports such things as free traffic updates (for 10 countries), live weather reports and guides to local events.

All new Nokia smartphones with onboard GPS will come with Ovi Maps preinstalled starting from March 2010, but until then, the app can downloaded for the Nokia X6, Nokia N97 mini, E72, E55, E52, Nokia 6730 classic, Nokia 6710 Navigator, Nokia 5800 Xpressmusic, Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition, Nokia 5230.

The N97 smartphone and N900 internet tablet are noticeably absent from this list, but Nokia is apparently planning N97 support (with Ovi Maps 3.03) at the end of the month.

Here are some videos that show Ovi Maps in action:

Here’s the blurb from the press release, which gives a bit more detail:

Five key features that set Ovi Maps apart:

1. No hidden costs

The new version of Ovi Maps comes with all the maps and high-end, car grade navigation features you need for free and is yours to keep for the life of the smartphone. No additional licenses needed for extra countries, regions or services like traffic information or city guides. Data charges from network operators may apply.

2. Best global coverage

You take your mobile with you wherever you go in the world so, as standard, voice guided navigation for both pedestrians and drivers is available for 74 countries in 46 different languages and there are maps for over 180 countries. This gives you the best maps with the largest global coverage for free.

3. No network connection required when navigating

Avoid expensive, battery-draining network connections with Nokia’s unique hybrid technology. Maps can be pre-loaded on to your Nokia smartphone so you can set Ovi Maps to offline mode, saving battery power, and the navigation system will still work. This is particularly useful for those worried about data connection costs when travelling abroad or when you are travelling through areas with little or no network coverage.

4. Unique hybrid technology

Ovi Maps is built on an advanced technology called hybrid vector maps. Vector maps are high quality but less data intensive and allow you to continue to navigate even if you lose your network connection. This means that maps downloaded or updated across a network connection are about half the size of bulky bitmaps used by other mobile map providers. The hybrid technology ensures that, unlike other providers, any downloaded map data is stored on the device for future use.

5. Voice guidance & traffic information

Turn-by-turn, voice guided navigation comes free for both drivers and pedestrians. For drivers this includes lane assistance, traffic information, safety camera and speed warnings. For pedestrians this includes shortcuts through parks and pedestrian-only zones for over 100 cities around the world as well as 6000 3D landmarks in over 200 cities to help you find exactly where you are.

[ Nokia Ovi Maps]