14 DAY TRIAL // Nokia is officially dropping the Ovi brand starting this summer, but it will keep all the services offered under the name. Starting with the new phones that will be released on the market in July and August, Ovi Services will be rebranded as Nokia Services.
According to Nokia, this is just a name-change, as all the services will remain, as well as the service roadmap that is scheduled for this year.
Furthermore, the transition is scheduled to continue into 2012, so Nokia fans should expect to experiment the replacement of the word Ovi with Nokia, on both their devices' software and printed material or online advertisements.
Nokia’s EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Jerri DeVard explains the shift, “We have made the decision to change our service branding from Ovi to Nokia. By centralizing our services identity under one brand, not two, we will reinforce the powerful master brand of Nokia and unify our brand architecture – while continuing to deliver compelling opportunities and experiences for partners and consumers alike.”
The rebranding of the Ovi services is no surprise at all, as this is part of the new strategy unveiled by the company's CEO, Stephen Elop, earlier this year.
Part of these services are expected to be bundled with the new Nokia Windows Phone 7 smartphones that are scheduled for release earlier next year.
“The reasons for this decision includes the fact that Nokia is a well-known and highly-loved brand the world over. Our mobile experiences are tightly integrated with our devices – there is no longer a differentiation. For example, if consumers want the best mobile navigation experience, they know it’s a Nokia that they can rely on,” concluded DeVard.
The handset manufacturer stated that the name change will not affect current or future Nokia fans who are using Ovi services.