Nokia Maps 2.0 upgrade goes live

Nokia Maps 2.0 introduces a raft of enhancements to the mobile navigation and location-based services application

The Nokia Maps 2.0 software update is now available to download for free, bringing a wide range of improvements to the mobile-based navigation system

Nokia mobile users can now download the full updated version of Nokia Maps 2.0, which is ready for action after leaving beta stage.

Nokia Maps 2.0 introduces a raft of enhancements to the mobile navigation and location-based services application. These include improvements to its in-car and pedestrian navigation options, the addition of satellite images, more multimedia city guides and a revamped user interface.

The updated software, which is available to download free from http://www.maps.nokia.com, improves the car navigation option, with faster routing, and a new carousel interface for selecting different views quickly and easily. With added features, incuding sign posts and a multi-stop route planner, Nokia claims the new version provides the equivalent experience of a personal navigation device (PND) in your phone.

Pedestrians get an improved navigation exerience too, with step by step visual guidance, plus information about surrounding buildings, streets and parks. It also provdies public transport information data for 17 cities, and A-GPS support for directional orientation using a virtual compass.

Other features include the introduction of a satellite image option (like Google Maps), with hybrid overlays in selected cities, and a one-box search facility for finding a variety of local places, addresses, restaurants and so on. Nokia's enhanced downloadable multimedia city guides now on offer also include photos, videos and audio streams.

The Nokia Maps application enables users with suitably equipped handsets to download maps and other location based information for over 200 countries dynamically rather than having them pre-loaded on to a phone or memory card.