After killing off Ovi Music in January, the new Nokia is shedding its old image, rebranding all its live Ovi services as “Nokia services.” That means the Ovi app store will just be known as the Nokia app store. [NokiaConversations] More »

Gizmodo

If you’re trying to keep track of how all the app stores are performing in relation to each other (or are otherwise just a stats geek), this one ought to make your day. Nokia has just released a pocketful of statistics regarding their app store, Ovi, detailing just how well it was doing as of the end of February.

Bringing you the excerpts directly from the blog post:

“Have you lost or deleted any of your Nokia application due to some odd reason? You don’t have to worry anymore. Nokia now allow its users to re-download purchased applications, with the *only* provision that you are re-downloading onto the same device from where you had originally purchased the application. Below is a video demonstrating how it works.”
Many times users end up formatting the memory cards due to some kind of bug troubling their devices. This re-download option from the Ovi Store might be very useful and save some money too. But if you end up losing or damaging your old cell phone, you will end up paying to have all your previously-purchased apps downloaded for the new handset.“

Those who are unaware about Nokia’s application store, here’s an update on that. Nokia had launched its Ovi store in a few countries early this year, with N97 as the first Nokia phone to have an integrated Ovi store. Son after Nokia, had its Ovi stores in all the countries. For first time users, all you have to do is to refresh your download and find the Nokia Ovi store there.

Although the Nokia Ovi store came late, it managed to catch up with group of other application stores. And now with this refreshing Nokia application hitting the market, Nokia sure has some advantage to it. Having an application store is always a good way to keep the users happy by providing some useful and power applications.

Watch the video demonstrating how to download and use the Nokia application here.

Aside from a better case, Nokia should’ve included the N97 into its Comes With Music program (currently unavailable for this phone, much less in the Philippines). The phone isn’t as hip or youth-oriented as the 5800, but purchasing a flagship Nokia model always represents brand loyalty and a significant investment for the buyer. Why not reward that kind of devotion?

All things said, each Nokia N97 comes with a lot of useful items. At the very least, the USB data cable, hands-free kit, charger adapter, and the phone’s built-in 32GB of memory means you don’t have to buy accessories to maximize the N97. The bundle is good, but pretty much standard for a high-end phone.

As far as I know, the N97 isn’t under Nokia’s Comes With Music program, which allows new phone owners to purchase as much music as they want within a year from the Nokia music store. Nokia can easily change this, and even make it available retroactively to early adopters. That will definitely provide more value for the N97.

Post from: The Gadget Blog

While most had their eyes on Stephen Fry at the Nokia N97 launch, some keen bods were busy pumping the execs for information and it seems they pumped well. It turns out that Nokia is planning on phasing out the DRM on their Comes With Music package meaning that users will be able to download tracks as MP3s and actually keep their tunes. It’s always been the desire of the mobile giant to go DRM-free but ultimately the decision has always been down to the labels who have never exactly been first to come round to new digital ideas. It seems, though, that the big wigs have softened/modernised their attitudes since deals like the DRM-free one between Virgin and Universal and it looks as all with CWM will reap the rewards as of 2010. A Nokia spokesperson said: “Nokia is committed to going DRM free on the Nokia Music Store in 2009″. “Comes With Music offers great value and even with the DRM in place, it continues to have great appeal to our consumers. We are constantly discussing with the music industry about how to evolve Comes With Music and further enrich the proposition we currently have”. It’s not clear if this evolution will continue to involve an all you can eat service if it is to be DRM-free but, given the extent of the CWM catalogue, I’m looking forward to finding out. (via ME & Pocket Lint)