WITH the latest technology in multimedia handling incorporated into its latest handsets, Nokia is set to enrich user experience in the mobile realm. Together with the new Nokia models – the N96, N78, 6220 Classic and 6210 Navigator – the enhanced version of Nokia Maps, Maps 2.0, and the first brand under the Ovi Internet environment, Share on Ovi, were announced at the recent Showcase Nokia 2008 held in Sydney, Australia.

According to Colin Giles, Nokia’s senior vice president of sales, Distribution East, Nokia will remain focused on combining the benefits and opportunities of the Internet with a new lineup of converged devices and services that promote collaboration and sharing.

In line with this, the company is promoting location-based services such as mapping and navigation as fundamental platforms in its current and upcoming mobile devices.

“As we continue to free the Internet from the limitations of the desktop, we are taking mobility into a completely new realm of possibility. We are redefining the Internet as we make it more context aware,” Giles said.

One of the new features onboard Maps 2.0 is Walk, a pedestrian-focused navigation component to the application.

“With Maps 2.0, we are taking the navigation out of the car and onto the sidewalks,” said Chris Carr, Nokia’s vice president of sales for Southeast Asia.

For instance, combined with the 6210 Navigator, which has a built-in compass, Maps 2.0 can help tourists and visitors explore new cities and tread on quick routes.

Maps 2.0 is compatible with S60 Third Edition, Feature Pack 1 devices and will be available as a final release during the second quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, Share on Ovi is a free personal media sharing community for easy uploading, managing and sharing of personal media through a mobile, desktop or other connected devices. Here, users can socialise, interact, collaborate and enjoy working with over 100 different media types with unlimited storage and unlimited monthly uploads.

As one of the key services to be offered through Ovi, Share on Ovi offers free and unlimited support for audio, video and multimedia files.

The great value that Nokia can bring is having the service integrated into Nokia mobile devices, said Gautam Advani, Nokia’s head, go-to-market, devices, software and services, Southeast Asia-Pacific cluster. He envisions Ovi to be a multimedia and communication gateway for consumers.

Nokia also announced the availability of Nokia Music Store in Singapore and Australia later this year, where it hopes to bring a wide selection of music from international, local and independent scenes.