Nokia re-organises location-based business

Integrates Navteq with its social location operation to form 'Location & Commerce' unit.

The location and mapping operation has been one of the few to give Nokia cheer over the last 18 months. Its maps are well-regarded and have been downloaded in huge numbers since they were made free in Janauary 2010.

Nokia now says it will develop a new class of integrated social location products and services for consumers, as well as B2B  platform services using the integration of Nokia community data for app makers, ISPs, device makers and so on.

The firm has appointed Michael Halbherr as EVP of the new unit. He's been with Nokia since 2006.

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said: "Focusing on location and commerce is a natural next step in Nokia's Services journey. We will provide next generation social-location applications and commerce to differentiate Nokia.

"We also aim to extend our content and services offerings to all consumers by making them available to partners and customers on a wide variety of devices and operating systems."