Free Turn-by-Turn Voice Guided Navigation on your 5800s with Ovi Maps
Filed Under Nokia 5800 News
We were hoping something like this would happen but we would be lying to you if we claim to have smelled this before Nokia left this cat out a couple of days ago. Yeah, we are talking about the new avatar of Ovi Maps offering free turn-by-tun voice guided navigation across 74 countries in 46 languages.
The latest move by Nokia is taking the navigation tools competition to a new level, a level very few services can sustain. Google started the trend with its similar free service in the US with its android app but Nokia beat them hands down, by offering a similar service across the globe and going by the present market penetration of Nokia devices, it’s anybody’s guess which is going to shape the navigation industry in the long-run.
Screenshots-
As you can see from the above screenshots, Ovi Maps has got a new makeover. Not only are the navigation options free but some there are some third-party add-ons as well. Lonely Planet is one notable addition and so is Hungry-Go-Where.Before we go gaga over the killer features of this app, take a look at this introductory video on the new version of Ovi Maps
Now, that’s what we call a “Complete Navigation App“. Besides what the above video has to say, Ovi Maps also offers real-time search for points of interest and weather forecast, just in case you are too lazy to pop your head out of the window to see what the sky looks like!
We tried the navigation app extensively here and found the voice instructions pretty lucid and easy to follow. Further local street names were pronounced correctly and not with an European accent as you would expect from a “Made in Europe” app. Once you select your starting and end points, you can select what language and voice (male/female) you would like to have for your instructions and the itinerary is downloaded in real time, updating on traffic info as seen from the video above. Pedestrian navigation is handy as well, especially when you find yourself lost in the wrong lane.
The bottom line is the new Ovi Maps is one killer app and waste no further time and head to www.nokia.mobi/maps/dl with your mobile browser to get the latest version of Ovi Maps on your 5800s. You can also find the update with the App Update/ SW Update option on your 5800.
P.S- Our 5800 Navigation Edition users may feel let down as they lost their exclusivity with their lifetime navigation license but hey you now have a larger user group to organise your next travel itinerary via Ovi Maps.
Tags: 
Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Hi,
I tried to install this when I heard the news yesterday but it did not work. This is cos the Maps application needs a version higher than 3.1 and my mobile has version 3.0.something. So I connected my phone to the laptop on Ovi to get the latest version. I went online to check for updates and came back saying ‘no updates available’.
I am based in the UK. Does this mean no one in the UK would be able to use the application as of now? Is there any other way to get the firm ware update while it is not available on Ovi?
Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Awesome! Sounds great! Will download and install it tomorrow, after I perform a hard reset on my 5800.
I’ve been facing a few difficulties with it, but fortunately, I know how to solve those difficulties.
Ta-ra!
Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Sorry, I meant to say v30.0.something versus v31.0.0 as required by the free maps.
Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Hi there, I downloaded this today and have given it a little test on my way home. It does seem to work okayish, but it did take some time to recalculate my route, and several times, I had already entered and esxited a roundabout before the sat nav caught up, mind you Garmin XT on my phones does the same. Apart from that it is easy to use. Time will tell once I have used it for long journeys if I prefer it to Garmin (Im off on a hour footy trip to Leeds soon so that will be the real measure of how it performs. If I do have a criticism, its that the touch icons are a tad too small, but then again i’m used to the big bold buttons of Garmin.
But, it is free, I cant complain, and the addition of the third party add ons such as lonely planet is a huge plus. The biggest plus is that it is free and will work anywhere
. All in all WELL DONE NOKIA !!!!
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 4:35 am
WOW….nokia guys really tryin to please the 5800 crowd… specially with d v4 update wch is hot…. but the free navigation on OVI tht s great news…. now thts really sexy…
n guys incase u cant download from the link as there is no download option try it here then
http://maps.nokia.com/explore-services/ovi-maps/downloads#/nokia-5800-xpressmusic/
n thanks admin for keepin us updated with all d new news bout our beloved 5800… ty guys nice job…
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 4:38 am
AARGH!!!
NOKIA
Sorry.
This service is not available for your device or market. Find services for your device at nokia.mobi/ovi
(http://mobile.nokia.mobi/ui/page/MEA/AE/en/NonNokiaD/SIMPLECAMPAIGN_PAGE?_nfpb=true&campaign_name=NavigationMain)
Darn! Seems this thing isn’t available for Nokia’s Middle East consumer group.
:@
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 4:48 am
In what countries is this service availiable?? I´m in Sweden and it looks like no go for us!! Thank you Finland!!:-(
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 9:39 am
I very much like the new maps. It really rounds out the phone.
Also, for anyone who wants the GPS to track quicker, go to location->positioning preferences and instead of supl.nokia.com put it supl.google.com
It works much much quicker overall and the satellites link up almost immediately.
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 11:03 am
does it works in a Asia…?
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 1:03 pm
UPDATE:
Seems that some users can’t download via the link posted above. Well, use the SW Update feature on your phone. It’ll display an update for Maps, and simply update it. Voila! YOur phone will have the new improved Maps.
Though I can’t seem to get around one snag I keep hitting, and I would welcome suggestions.
Is there any way to go online in Maps with a WLAN connection without going offline? And why is an online connection needed? Based on what I know, GPS usage is free…then why do we have to go Online in Maps???
The data package charges in the United Arab Emirates are ridiculously high, and extremely uneconomical to use.
Plus, is there any way I can set a WLAN connection to be my default connection no matter which app I’m using?
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Works perfectly in New Zealand! I installed the v40 firmware a few days ago and this new completely free version of Ovi Maps works perfectly. Thank you Nokia!
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 11:55 pm
YEEEAAAHH!!:D
This new free Ovi Maps app work great in Poland!!:] I downloaded and installed it today after updating firmware in my 5800XM to 40.0.005.:]
The only thing i don’t like in Ovi Maps is that touching buttons on the screen doesn’t react with sound and vibe while i have these options turned on in my phone. Oh, and i feel the additional app to share my current location on facebook pretty rubbish and over-weight (around 4MB!!). Luckily it can be easily delated.;)
Nevertheless, BLESS THE NOKIA FOR THE NEW OVI MAPS!! GREAT THANK YOU!!:]
Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
@NABEEL…
hey man actually the net feature is for the lonly plannet , michillin n free tickets n weather features.. with d net u can view these things which allows u 2 view and learn bout d place ur in… so thts d net meaing…
n wlan wont wrk for maps anyhow except google maps
as net cant decide d position for gps u in….
sry fr d short explanation kinda busy with wrk… but felt to gv u a lil detail bout d snag…
nythin else then lemme kw…
cya..
Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
SIMPLY love you Nokia
Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
@Nabeel habibi just a question is it only for the nokia phones listed in the website because i have my N95 and i would to have it on it so do u think its coming out soon and about our 5800 there is only one thing missed in this awesome program is the search by Addresse and postal code and street name i mean in this new update i didnt found this feature
Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 1:17 am
@Nabeel
Goto Settings > Connectivity > Destinations > Internet.
Change your priority accordingly over there.
Cheers.
Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
If anybody is getting “installation failed” messages, just delete any old version of Nokia Maps on your phone.
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
@abhi:
Didn’t understand much, but I appreciate the gesture nevertheless.
@Hassan:
Na’am, habibi. It’s just for the phones listed. And about the search feature, you can still search using the address. Just twiddle around with it and you’ll get it.
Yallah ma’ salam.
@Pradyut:
Nopes, tried that. Doesn’t work in Maps, it seems.
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 2:29 am
Hi,
Will this work without data plan? In the past with a navigation license, I could get turn-by-turn without data plan. But now I am getting a “trying to upload” maps message. But although the map is not shown, the voice guidance works!
Finally, how do you get it to say street names. Mine just says “Turn right in 400 yards” etc.
Thanks,
Arvind
Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Hello, does anyone have experience about how to update firmware to v31 in Saudi Arabia? My Nokia 5800 has v21 and even with Nokia Software updater, it says that my device has the latest firmware, but I am unable to install Nokia Maps 3.03. My existing Nokia maps 3.0 still asks for license for drive navigation. Any help is greatly appreciated… Anand.
Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Sweet… =)
Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 11:37 am
@CS and all,
Do not try/change the server URL under Location preferences as it crashes down your phone. I’ve changed it suggested by CS however as soon as I launch OVI maps, my phone started shutting down. Uninstall/reinstall did not fix the thing. Changing the address back to Nokia from google fixed the issue.
Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at 9:39 am
Each try I press anything in Ovi Maps, it just freezes. Anyone getting the same?
Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 4:32 am
@Surendra,
I was just coming to post this here as well. Ovi Maps will crash if you have anything other than Nokia’s positioning server set unfortunately. Google syncs so much faster but I guess that’s the price we pay.
I still can’t figure out how to actually download like a map of America on mine.
Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
how do i install this as i try to update my phone but it says there is no updates but the ovi maps tells me to update my software
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 4:23 am
I already got ovi maps 3.0 installed which is the new one so will i have to reinstall it to get the navigaion for free??
Also i still have to V31 firmware as the latest one isnt available to me yet.
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 9:36 am
@CS
uhm use ovi suit and go to maps, and browse via the list for it…
or even better, download the stand alone “map loader” from nokia site, google it..