Nokia makes Navteq heart of new SoLo strategy
Merges mapping unit with social and location offerings in throwback to previous CEO's web services push
Published: 23 June, 2011
READ MORE: Nokia | Location | Symbian
Amid all its current problems, Navteq remains a crown jewel for Nokia, and the firm is creating a broader platform and business unit around the location-based product. It will
combine the Navteq mapping activities with its social location services to go after the key 'SoLo' space.
But the company has tacitly acknowledged its weaknesses as a provider of hit consumer apps, and its new unit has a broader reach, also creating mobile commerce services for third party device makers, software developers, ISPs, businesses and advertisers. These will embrace multiple devices and operating systems, indicating the contrast between the mainstream Nokia strategy and that of Navteq ' tipped by some for spin-off or sale.
Michael Halbherr, from Nokia's Germany-based services division, has been appointed to head the new operation, which appears to sideline the acting head of services, Tero Ojanpera, who now has the role of leading Nokia's program for employees affected by the round of lay-offs.
"Focusing on location and commerce is a natural next step in Nokia's services journey," said CEO Stephen Elop in a statement. "We will provide next generation social-location applications and commerce to differentiate Nokia. We also aim to extend our content and services offerings to all consumers by making them available to partners and customers on a wide variety of devices and operating systems."
Nokia also separately said that it had finalized its deal to outsource Symbian to Accenture, which will provide software development and support services for the legacy platform until 2016. About 2,800 Nokia employees in China, Finland, India, the UK and US will transfer to Accenture from early October.
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