Nokia takes on Apple

Top Nokia executives have detailed two initiatives designed to mold the cellphone maker into an integrated end to end customer service organization, much like Apple. The first move comes as the introduction of Nokia's "Comes with Music" service that offers customers who purchase select Nokia devices 12 months of free unlimited access to the Nokia music catalog. Nokia customers outside the U.S. will have access to all of Universal Music's tracks during the 12-month trial period, downloading as many tracks as desired.

Those customers can keep all downloaded tracks following the trial period, even if they choose not to pay a subscription fee that would prolong their access to Comes with Music.

"Clearly Nokia expects that users will find free music for a year a compelling alternative to iTunes on the Phone," said Mike Grant, head of broadband and media at Analysis.

Nokia also announced further details of the expansion of its Ovi service via the internet and PCs. Ovi currently provides users with access to music, games, social networking, content sharing, and mapping services through an on device WAP portal. Going forward, Ovi.com will provide users with easy access to all their content and the Ovi storefront through a personalized 'dashboard' or Web based portal. That portal will also provide easy integration with on device data such as synchronized contact lists, similar to Apple's .Mac service.

"These moves are a clear statement that Nokia intends to compete head to head with Apple and others seeking to be consumer's default personal information and entertainment destination," said Grant. "As users increasingly build lives around their mobiles, taking pictures, listening to music, and maintaining and interacting with networks of friends and work colleagues, equality of access to content and data across mobile phones, PCs or another internet terminal is becoming increasingly important. Previously, only those who bought into Apple's .mac vision (some would say religion) could indulge in such luxury. Very shortly users will have a choice and that choice will include Nokia Ovi."

by MacNN Staff