R.I.P. Ovi; Hello Nokia Services

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Ovi has been Nokia’s flagship services store and community for the longest time. But with the upcoming switch to Windows Phone 7, it’s high time that Nokia retires Ovi for something new.

Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft is a big gamble for the Finnish company, as it leaves behind its Symbian legacy in pursuit for what can be a big success or a big flop. Microsoft is said to be giving Nokia preferential treatment as a partner and WP7 smartphone manufacturer, and Nokia intends to capitalize on this.

Perhaps as part of their efforts to ramp up the visibility of their new mobile OS thrust, they’re doing away with the Ovi brand that has been the flagship Nokia resource for software, applications, services and community. Nokia will start marketing these as Nokia Services, which the company says is an evolution as part of its transition to WP7.

The actual services will have no interruption, though, and these include mail, maps, app store, and all previously under the Ovi brand.

Will this name change help Nokia get back its glory as the most popular smartphone once they’re getting into high gear with WP7?