Ovi: Nokia launches a digital music store!

Nokia is the latest challenger to Apple iTunes digital media store. The world’s largest mobile phone maker has announced their own new service which can be used by their mobile owners to download music from.

This service has been named OVI which means ‘door’ in Finnish. The company also launched some high end phones as they aim to challenge the recently launched Apple iPhone.

Nokia said that their store would carry millions of tracks from major labels. Customers would be able to transfer music from PCs to compatible Nokia devices. They would also be able to play and download N-Gage games on several existing Nokia mobile handsets.

Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo added in his statement: “The industry is converging towards Internet-driven experiences, and Ovi represents Nokia’s vision in combining the Internet and mobility.”

The company had acquired Loudeye Corp. last year. This company was a leading provider of digital media distribution services. Nokia has now completed deals with four major music labels including the Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, EMI Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

Nokia said that the digital media store would start operating this autumn in Europe and later in Asia.