Gate5 to Nokia to Ovi- LBS eternity
Rating: serious about maps
Nokia’s Michael Halbherr has let loose on MAPs at a conference on Navigation in Barcelona. According the latest Nokia press release Nokia Map Loaders for PC’s has been downloaded over one million times.
He goes on:
The updated Nokia Maps application has a new streamlined user interface with improved nearby search and detailed categories. “Many people were saying that they didn’t know how much data they were using, so we have added a data download counter in the map view. We also added a GPS status indicator so that you know when your device is connected to the satellites.” The updated version also comes with a bonus three-day trial Navigation license free of charge*. “With this trial users can try out the service over a weekend holiday or a short business trip and discover the convenience of having a personal navigation device integrated into their mobile.”
So why is Mr. Halbherr so bullish?
Well, I had the pleasure of sitting next to Mr Halbherr over dinner a few weeks ago and he is the former CEO of Gate5 the LBS navigation and mapping platform that Nokia purchased last year.
Michael is Swiss living in Berlin and he loves it. From the sound of our brief chat (as he arrived late for dinner and I had to leave early) he talked of maps and LBS finally finding their feet. To be honest, we have all been here before and the amount of times I have raved and then back dropped on LBS services is endless. But since Gate5 launching in 1999, Michael is best placed to know about the rise, fall and rise and fall … of the LBS market.
That said it must be great for Michael to sell a company to Nokia, remain in charge of the service deployment and then evangelise about the services at a conference.
But what do we think?
To be honest, even one million downloads and a lot of excitement we believe that its is still a good 18 months too early for maps on mobile. The PC services might be downloading well but are there any true examples of mobile map usage out of WAP LBS or friend finder services? I don’t think so. Even my geeky husband who annoys the hell out of me looking at Google maps online got bored of mobile maps within days (not weeks or months) of downloading the service on his device. It was all just too small.
Personally, I have download the maps service on the Nokia N73 three times and each time I do something difficult with the intention of making it fail – it never lets me down.
Anyway – we are firmly watching this space and we can’t wait to talk about successful LBS but the integration of maps into Ovi sounds a bit confusing. Nokia claims it will launch the open door to the community – but if you need a map to navigate not sure how popular that will be?
Seriously, perhaps applications should have a chance to grow organically first before banging the drum of several new services in one go and integrating services into a package. But Ovi is too new at the moment to make any real comments.
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