Nokia release of a new Ovi kit (SDK)

Nokia announced the release of a new Ovi applications programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK), enabling developers to use its mapping and navigation services and integrate their own applications.

The Espoo, Finland-based company said it will progressively roll out new Application Program Interfaces, or APIs, for its services, starting Thursday with the Ovi Maps Player and Ovi Navigation Player. With these announcements, the company has made it possible for developers to work on applications for the Symbian and Maemo operating systems.

The company has already been working with partners including Lonely Planet, Deutsche Bahn, Associated Press, Qype, National Geographic, Deutsche Telekom Medien and Langenscheidt to create example apps using the Ovi SDK Beta and Ovi APIs. Applications created with Ovi SDK and Ovi APIs will be available for consumers through the Ovi Store in 2010, the company said.