Free Nokia Ovi Maps Downloaded 1.4 Million Times Already

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It looks like Nokia’s reinvented Ovi Maps navigation system has become quite a hit application. Just two weeks ago Nokia decided to make its somewhat famous application free of charge and since then Nokia smartphones owners have downloaded the app 1.4 million times.

The number is quite impressive considering that Nokia made its announcement on January 21. And now, two weeks later, Nokia has issued a press release to brag about the success of Nokia Ovi Maps.

Anssi Vanjoki, executive vice president at Nokia said:

We’re averaging a download a second, 24 hours a day. When we announced free walk & drive navigation we knew it would be a game-changer. The number of people now using their Nokia for navigation, and as a result looking for more location-aware software, is growing faster than even we predicted.

Let’s hope that Google is watching all this and decides to get ready to extend its navigation system outside of the USA. Otherwise Nokia might just have a secret weapon that could convince many people to choose its handsets over the ones from the competition.

Devices like the 5800 XpressMusic, N97 mini, N97, 5230 and E72 are the most popular handsets for downloading the application. They surely can’t fight a proper war against the iPhone or most Android smartphones currently available but with this new Ovi Maps navigation application on board they also double as valuable GPS units.

All Nokia GPS-enabled smartphones coming from next month onwards will have this new Ovi Maps version preinstalled and pre-loaded with local country map data, high-end walk and drive navigation and access to extra services like Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides at no extra cost.

I’ve got to hand it to you, Nokia, the reinvented Ovi Maps service looks like it has what it takes to give you the extra edge you need in the mobile business. But can we have some very hot GPS-enabled smartphones too?