Free GPS maps for Nokia from SatNav
Leading Indian GPS solutions provider SatNav Technologies will offer GPS maps & software for Symbian phones for free for a limited time. Symbian is an operating system in most Nokia smartphones. Those who have GPS-enabled Nokia mobile phones can download the map software for free from the SatNav Technologies website. SatNav sells its GPS solutions under the brand name SatGuide.
Navigation with portable GPS is still an emerging segment in India, despite the millions on vehicles on its roads. Read our earlier report on GPS navigation devices and mobile phones.
After downloading and installing the free SatGuide maps, you can use it for ten times. After that, you can either reinstall SatGuide on your Nokia Symbian mobile phone, or purchase the map software at a price of Rs 2138. This is a one-time payment, SatNav said.
SatNav Technologies Founder & CEO Amit Prasad said: “We are leaving no stone unturned to spread awareness about GPS technology amongst consumers in India because it offers immense value and makes a positive impact on the daily lives of individuals in the country. At the same time we also aim at providing quality solutions at an affordable price for the mass market. Our latest initiative empowers users to try our services and evaluate the value proposition to then take a call on which application they would like to use in the long term.”
The free GPS maps from SatNav Technologies are available for 412 cities in India, the company said. Along with the limited-time free software offer, SatNav has also announced a discount offer. If you download the free GPS map from the Satnav website, you also become eligible for a Rs 1,000 cash back offer. So if you decide to purchase maps from SatNav within 30 days of download, you get practically a 50% discount.
SatNav said in a press release on its website that the free SatGuide maps will have 16 lakh points of interest all over India. SatNav has also tied up with partners in Europe, US and Canada to offer maps for these areas. So if you have a Nokia GPS phone with Symbian operating system and plan to have onboard GPS maps, you could use the GPS solution in India as well as in the West.
SatNav has stepped into Nokia territory with the free GPS maps offer. Nokia is already pushing Ovi Maps with many of its new GPS enabled phones, to offer complete navigation solutions. SatNav said that since Nokia already has its maps venture, it has not been very receptive to using a rival product on its phones. However, with the launch of the free edition of GPS maps for Symbian phones (essentially Nokia phones), SatNav has taken its maps a step closer to Nokia GPS smartphone users in India.
With the launch of the free offer, SatNav also steals the thunder from rival map vendor MapMyIndia.
Even though GPS devices and maps are an essential aid for drivers abroad, prices — of both devices and maps — in India have been high, putting it out of reach of ordinary users and making it a luxury gadget. SatNav’s attempt to give away free maps for Nokia maps will definitely make rivals sit up and take notice.
Onboard GPS maps, like the ones from SatNav and MapMyIndia are already under threat from online maps from Google. Unlike onboard maps, Google Maps are accessed live from Google servers, as you keep moving. Google recently launched a free version of its Google Maps for Mobile with Voice Navigation, taking a direct hit at map vendors. However, though Google Maps with voice navigation is an exciting idea, poor GPRS connectivity is expected to prevent the mass adoption of Google GPS by Indian drivers. Besides, Google Maps for mobile navigation is still available only for the Android platform, and it could be a while before versions for Windows Mobile and Symbian are rolled out.
The free SatGuide Mobile Navigation Software can be installed on Nokia N95, Nokia E66, Nokia 6110, Nokia N82, Nokia 6210, Nokia E57, Nokia 6220, Nokia N78, Nokia N96, Nokia N73 and Samsung i560.