Nokia launches navigation solution in Lagos

Nokia Nigeria has launched its navigation solution for mobility into the nation’s market.

Announcing this at a media launch in Lagos, the product manager, Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Jude Omozegie said that with the unveiling Nokia Maps and Navigation service for Nigeria, users of several Nokia device models in the country, can now enjoy their Nokia mobile handsets’ mapping and navigation solutions with cutting edge features.

He explained that the solution has Nigerian streets maps with vital local content such as points of interest, as well as free downloadable world maps with just a touch away.

“Nigerians can route addresses in major cities across the globe with the greatest of ease from their mobile phones with Nokia Maps 3.0,” he said, stressing that it adds either walk or drive.

According to him, “Walk”, is a pedestrian focused navigation component to the application, while “Drive”, is a world class car navigation system.

“The pedestrian navigation efficiently walks you from one place to another with visual turn-by-turn guidance. It helps you to locate yourself by giving information about the surrounding buildings, streets and parks including pathways through the park, while Nokia 6210 Navigator also has a built in compass for orientation. The drive option gives you turn-by- turn voice guidance as you drive,” he explained.

Speaking at the occasion, the General Manager Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Philip De La Vega, pointed out that by using the navigation services either in the car or as walk, Nokia is enabling people to explore and discover what’s around them with the confidence of a local.

“By combining the integrated compass of the Nokia 6210 Navigator, with the speed and accuracy of assisted Global Positioning System (GPS), Nokia Maps 3.0 provides a unique experience that surpasses other navigation applications,” he said.

Emphasizing that Nokia Maps 3.0 comes free of charge and could be used on any GPS enabled Nokia device.

“With over 29,000 points of interests which include restaurants, petrol stations, banks and hotels, Nokia Maps 3.0 can be easily downloaded from www.nokia.com/maps or at any Nokia Care Centre,” he said.

Underscoring the fact that navigation is a premium service and consumers can purchase navigation vouchers from selected Nokia retail outlets nationwide.

Enlightening further, the Nokia Communications Manager Nigeria, Mrs. Ngozi Ife Anene, said, Nokia Maps for Nigeria has 138,230 kilometres (km) of detailed road coverage of which 21,700km and are located in 14 cities.

“These cities include Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Ibadan, Benin City, Port Harcourt and Kaduna amongst others. At present, the total Nigeria road network is 193,200km which means we have 72 per cent of the Nigeria road network covered on our Maps and we believe this is a great benefit to Nigerians and visiting consumers,” she said.

Mrs. Anene noted that Nokia 6210 Navigator, for instance, comes with a 24-month navigation license embedded on the device, while the Nokia E71 comes with a 12-month navigation license with no additional cost to the consumers.

The media were later taken on a tour guided by the navigation system to experience the service first hand.

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