Oct/Nov 2006

Nokia's acquisition this autumn of gate5, an established German-based supplier of mapping, routing and navigation software and services, underlines just how important mapping and navigation services are now seen in the mobile phone market.

Most of the major handset manufacturers have been getting involved in mapping and satellite navigation to some degree, but usually by forming relationships with third-party suppliers rather than actually taking them over. A prime example is seen in the newly formed relationship between mapping specialist Tele Atlas and Symbian, the mobile phone operating systems developer (Software Update, page xx).

Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's executive vice president and general manager for multimedia, sums up his company's view. "We believe location-based experiences, such as search, mapping and navigation will be a fundamental platform for many applications in Nokia Nseries devices going forward," he says. The company says it sees the acquisition as "an important step in developing the new product category of multimedia computers".

Nokia had already been working with gate5 prior to the acquisition. In September it introduced the Nokia N95 multimedia computer with integrated GPS and navigation functionality. The Nokia maps and navigation application are based on the gate5 software platform.

 

Perhaps wisely, Nokia says gate5 will remain free to develop systems for a range of platforms including Symbian, Linux, Windows Mobile, and Palm platforms. It will not become a Nokia-only developer, the company insists.