CNN taps Nokia map services to bolster digital news coverage

CNN and Nokia (NYSE:NOK) have signed a multi-level international partnership that integrates the mobile firm's mapping services into the news giant's digital coverage. Per terms of the deal, CNN and Nokia will team on global newsgathering, user-generated content, mapping technologies and location-based services.

The agreement includes the CNN App for Nokia, which offers mobile access to world news, business, sports and entertainment coverage--users can share CNN content across their social media channels, and submit their own coverage via CNN's iReport participatory news community. Late last month, CNN leveraged Nokia's 3D Maps solution during its coverage of the British royal wedding.

Nokia recently announced it will discontinue its Ovi mobile services umbrella this summer, continuing its existing initiatives and rolling out new efforts under the Nokia brand. The transition, slated to begin in July, is expected to continue throughout late 2012 and spans across all Ovi solutions and international markets--no disruption of the device maker's service roadmaps is expected, and Nokia adds that consumers who purchase a new Nokia smartphone or feature phone in the coming months will see the new branding in place on most preloaded services.

In addition, Nokia is reportedly at work on a massive overhaul of its Navteq navigation and location-based solutions unit that will reposition the platform to target social location-enabled applications, services and developer tools. An internal memo obtained by Phone Scoop indicates that effective May 1, Nokia EVP Tero Ojanpera and Navteq CEO Larry Kaplan commenced work on a new business unit that consolidates all of Nokia's location assets designed to deliver differentiated geo-specific social services as well as hyper-local mobile advertising services for brands and merchants.

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