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The Nokia team is thrilled to be releasing the newest versions of our Map apps for Symbian.  If you already have Belle firmware running, you can access maps by Nokia Suite, Software Update from device, from .mobi, and from Nokia Store. For those of you with Anna, you can access maps by Nokia Suite or Software Updater on your device. We hope you will love it, and whether you do or you don’t, we look forward to hearing what you think.

If you have been using Nokia Maps, the first thing that you will notice when you open this new version is that all of the apps are now listed separately in the menu so you can get to what you need faster. We know that it’s a big break of habit to remove the old Maps app menu grid, but after you use it for a couple weeks, you will see why we did it. Each application has a specific use and is designed to fit that use. Whichever apps you use every day can be added as shortcuts to your home screen. That means that you don’t have to open Maps to get to Drive anymore. You can get started with a single tap. Now you can explore and navigate the world around you even faster.

Speaking of Drive, we have given this app a complete makeover. The interface has been optimized for clarity and safety so that you can keep your mind on the road. You get what you need from your Drive app with just a glance.

Not all of our work in the Drive app was on the surface though! In our last update, we had already given you the ability to see the Live Traffic Flow on the map so that you could try to avoid congestion. Now, we’ve done even better. In countries where it is available, the Live Traffic Rerouting feature (called “avoid traffic” in your route settings) will use real-time traffic information to automatically adjust your route. That means that you will always have the best route for right now.

When you open the Drive app, you have three clear options: set destination, drive home, or just drive. Here’s a pro tip: If you just start driving the app will notice that the car is moving and the start screen will go away and drive assistance will kick in automatically.

By popular demand, we have added a dashboard to the drive assistance screen. The new drive assistance tracks your current speed, shows the speed limit, displays driven distance, shows you live traffic and warns you when you’re driving over the speed limit or when there’s a speed camera ahead. If you need voice guidance, you can set your destination to any place in 104 countries on 6 continents.  Choose your language for voice guidance from 50+ languages. You can navigate offline with preloaded maps to save on data costs and make a road trip across countries you haven’t been to before.

In Part 2 of this post you’ll hear more about what you can do with Nokia Maps once you reach your destination. In part 3 you’ll get some tips on how to save time and money using Nokia Maps.