Nokia, Yahoo team up to take on Google, Apple in mobile internet

Nokia, the world's biggest mobile phone manufacturer and Internet company Yahoo have announced alliance plans for e-mail, instant messaging and maps and navigation services to take on Google's Android-run mobile phones and Apple's iPhones.

Nokia and Yahoo said yesterday that they have entered into a global strategic alliance, where the Nokia would provide map services to Yahoo customers on both PCs and mobile devices, while the Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo will provide mail and chat services for Nokia handsets globally.

Select, co-branded service offerings are expected to become available from the second half of 2010, with global availability expected in 2011.

Yahoo properties' maps will be tagged as "powered by Ovi," while Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat will be "powered by Yahoo." In addition, the two companies will work on ID federation between their services, beginning by making it easy for people to use their Ovi user IDs across select Yahoo! properties to easily access the online content and services they need.

"Delivering great user experiences - both online and on your mobile - is what this alliance is all about," said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO, Nokia. "We're enabling millions of Yahoo! customers in key markets including North America to discover the unique capabilities that Ovi Maps brings.

''Similarly, Yahoo!'s online expertise will bring exciting mail and messaging enhancements to millions of Ovi Mail customers across almost every country around the world, many of whom will have their first Internet experience on their mobile," he added.