Nokia has released the new version of the free software for Ovi Maps 3.0.4 navigation. According to the official blog of the company the application has become “faster, better and more personal”. The video below displays how it looks in action on N8 smartphone:

Apart from the obvious improvements in the quality of operation, the producer focuses its attention on the fact that useful information for tourists to be added to the application, and in particular information from the world’s leading travel companies.

Faster operation has been achieved due to the optimizing the methods of revealing the subscribers through triangulation, as well as the use of Wi-Fi local access points. Ovi Maps is compatible with the recently emerged service Ovi Voice, thanks to which users can record tips in the direction of motion and then use them.

N97, X6 and 6710 Navigator are the only smartphones that currently support applications. Devices of E-Series and XpressMusic are expected to be the next to get support for these applications. Judging from the video, N8 will come with already preinstalled application.

In January of this year the “Ovi maps” have become free for new Nokia models. Within three months users have downloaded more than 10 million copies of the program and this is not the limit. The new version has recently been released.

According to the official statement, the new “Ovi maps”  application operates more quickly (quickly determines the position of users regardless of location), better (in collaboration with Lonely Planet, Michelin and the local “Yellow pages” new point of interest have been added, the Qype program has been included) and has become more personalized (function of recording voice commands).

Another important news concerns the completion of Nokia smartphones. A car charger and a car holder have been included in boxes with the N97, N97 mini, 6710 Navigator and X6 for already two weeks. Soon the 5800 XpressMusic, 5230, E52 and E72 will be completed with a car holder.

In mid-January Nokia announced the transfer of navigation service Ovi Maps on a free basis. However the free walking and satellite navigation became available to owners only of relatively new models – N97, N97 mini, 5800 XpressMusic, 5800 Navigation Edition, E52, E55, E72, 5230, 6710 Navigator, 6730 classic, X6, N86 8MP.

The fresh press release shows that Nokia has taken into account the desires of  the users and has developed a version of Ovi Maps, compatible with former smartphones E71 and E66. However, not all features of new Ovi Maps have been implemented – there are no Guide Michelin and Lonely Planet premium services.

Ovi Maps for E71 and E66 are already available for downloaded from the Ovi Store.

Finnish Nokia has made its Ovi Maps service available for N97smartphone. Until now only owners of Nokia N97 mini, 5800 XpressMusic, 5800 Navigation Edition, E52, E55, E72, 5230, 6710 Navigator, 6730 classic and X6 devices could take advantage of the updated service.

We would like to remind you that the Ovi Maps offers turn-based navigation function for drivers and pedestrians completely free of charge and is available in the form of localized versions for the residents of 74 countries.
In order to work with Ovi Maps N97 users should upgrade the “firmware” of the device to the 2.0.h version. Nokia noted that the updated software platform may be temporarily unavailable in some regions.