14 DAY TRIAL // Not too long ago, Nokia made available to the public a few updates, meaning a firware update for its N95 model. After upgrading your firmware you realized that the Nokia Maps satellite navigation software is not what it used to be. More precisely, the tracking feature, which used to be free for all, is not available only for those who wish to have the premium version of the app.
Nokia Maps was available at first for some "select" Series 60 (the S60) and any devices that ran on Windows Mobile 5.0. Fortunately later on, Nokia included this upgrade for other mobile platforms, that included the S40 and Linux based devices too.
Nokia Maps was in fact the Smart2Go software that was renamed when Nokia took the project. When Nokia Maps were out, they were pre-loaded onto the N series handsets. The users were able to download the code, by accessing it via a PC or with a simple SMS. The free maps were covering 150 countries and came with all the points-of-interest databases. The software was able to do some route-planning and navigation too, for a limited number of 30 countries. This last future though was not free. Nokia handheld owners could buy the usage licenses. So, until now the software was free to download.
Now, Nokia comes with a new version, that focuses on "battery, stability and performance improvements". The firmware has many new features and a much better memory management, but this new app takes away the tracking feature from Nokia Maps and gives it to the public as a premium service.
As a response to this problem Nokia said that the feature was actually just a limited-time promotional offer. The Nokia Maps application did nothing more then to offer the user a tracking system of his/hers personal current position. Why so special? Not special, but just a basic function that a GPS software has. After the upgrade, the user realizes that this application doesn't exist anymore.
The idea is that some alternative GPS softwares are always available for the N95 model, but Nokia shoul warn its customers and users when it decides that a certain feature is not free anymore.