Nokia downloads store rivals iTunes
Updated on 29 August 2007
Nokia has unveiled a new music download store which will take on Apple's iTunes.
Its launch is part of the mobile phone giant's push into the internet services market under the brand name Ovi.
The online Nokia Music Store goes live later this year, offering millions of songs for download to PCs or direct to compatible Nokia handsets.
One of those handsets, the 8GB N81, can hold 6,000 songs and is described as a "jukebox in your pocket".
With a touch sensitive "navi-wheel" it is likely to be seen as a direct competitor to Apple's iPhone.
The Nokia Music Store will sell single tracks priced at 1 euro (68p) and albums from 10 euro (£6.80).
Ovi - which means "door" in Nokia's native Finnish - is described as an umbrella brand which will provide access to all of Nokia's online content. Users will be able to access the Nokia Music Store via the Ovi website as well as Nokia's games site plus their favourite online content.
Ovi will be accessible direct from compatible Nokia handsets and from PCs when it goes live later this year.
Announcing details of Nokia's push into internet services at a press conference in London, the firm's CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said: "We are transforming Nokia into an internet driven experience company offering not only great devices but also exciting services built around them."
Mr Kallasvuo said Nokia's worldwide customer base of 900 million people gave it an advantage in launching the new Ovi brand.
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