New York, USA – Today Yahoo! and Nokia have joined forces to create enhanced, online experiences that help you communicate and locate. The pair have been working together over the past five years on a number of projects, from launching Yahoo! Go Mobile on Nokia devices to Nokia devices’ ability to upload pics onto Flickr. This latest venture, their biggest to date, will see improvements to email, instant messaging, maps and navigation services. Join us after the break to find out what changes the new alliance will bring.
As part of the alliance Nokia will be the exclusive provider of Yahoo!’s maps and navigation services, branded as “powered by Ovi.” Nokia brings its ample experience in top-drawer, location-based products and maps to Yahoo!’s users. In turn, Yahoo! will become the exclusive global provider of Nokia’s Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat services, branded as “powered by Yahoo!.” Yahoo! brings its expertise in world-class internet offerings to the table for Ovi users.
Changes will also come in the form of Nokia and Yahoo! working together to improve access to a number of services. Initially, users with an Ovi ID will be able to unlock a myriad of handy internet and handset-based goodness from both partners. Some of the pain involved in trying to remember which of your hundreds of passwords you used may soon be over.
Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO, Nokia had this to say about the announcement:
“We’re enabling millions of Yahoo! customers in key markets including North America to discover the unique capabilities that Ovi Maps brings. Similarly, Yahoo!’s online expertise will bring exciting mail and messaging enhancements to millions of Ovi Mail customers across almost every country around the world, many of whom will have their first Internet experience on their mobile.”
Carol Bartz, CEO, Yahoo! joined OPK in his enthusiasm:
“We’re excited to expand the reach of our best-in-class Mail and Messenger services, bringing personalized experiences to more people across the mobile Web, particularly in emerging markets where we are seeding the next generation of Yahoo! users. At the same time, we believe Nokia’s strength and continued investment in maps and navigation will greatly enhance our existing products, enabling us to focus on areas that are core to our business.”
The collaboration will see benefits to both Yahoo! and Nokia. Nokia will be able to engage with Yahoo!’s millions of users, particularly in the U.S. and vice versa. Ovi Mail regulars will be able to tap into new experiences and it’ll extend Yahoo!’s reach in emerging markets. All in all, it looks a pretty rosy deal.
Select co-branded offerings are expected to become available from the second half of 2010, with global availability in 2011.