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Introduced last summer, the Nokia Maps mobile site, m.maps.nokia.com, has pretty much been the Google Maps knockoff that nobody knew about. It has given mobile users the ability to search for places, get directions, and share items with friends–all fairly standard stuff. But starting today, the Nokia Maps mobile site may have differentiated itself, as it now offers voice-guided, turn-by-turn walking navigation for all, something that Google’s mobile site doesn’t provide.
In order to use the navigation, all you have to do is go to m.maps.nokia.com, give it permission to access your location, and agree to a short Terms of Service sheet. Then, whether you’re on an iPhone, iPad, Nokia smartphone, or any other device with a mobile browser, Nokia Maps will be able to shout out directions as you walk.
My question is, why only walking navigation? I mean sure, iOS users in particular should be happy to be getting any turn-by-turn navigation at all, but I can’t think of many use case scenarios that call for this. Except maybe biking? Or maybe it’s a cold day, and you’d rather store your phone in your beanie than hold it out in front of you? In any case, it’s still something. And it could be that Nokia is just testing the waters before releasing its driving navigation feature. Let’s hope that’s what it is.
