Nokia answers Apple’s App Store with Ovi Store

Nokia firstly announced the Nokia Ovi Store merely a few months ago at the 2009 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Nokia Ovi store is simply an online store where people can purchase applications, themes, ringtones, among other content, for their Symbian-powered handset. Free applications can also be found, such as the Bloomberg news app.

The Ovi Store has just launched in Singapore, Australia, with more countries to be added over the next day.

Right now, S40 and S60 Symbian powered devices are supported, with support for additional Nokia phones to be added.

The Ovi Store icon will come standard on newer Nokia phones such as the much-anticipated N97 that will be released June 2009.

 To see if you can access the Ovi Store now on your phone, simply check the “Nokia Extras” folder on your handset.

Nokia will also be allowing access to the Ovi Store directly from your mobile browser.

Ovi is simply Nokia’s answer to the iPhone’s App Store. Given the enormous success Apple has had with its App Store, it is clear consumers are demanding easy access to a variety of applications for both work and play.

Despite the App Store reportedly earning Apple only between $20 million-$45 million, Apple maintains the App Store is not supposed to be a primary revenue driver, rather a tool to add value and drive sales.

Nokia seems to be releasing the Ovi Store not to be left behind, to add value for customers by offering apps, and to even earn some revenue from the sales.

Developers are now rushing to cash in (just like iPhone developer Brian Greenstone who needed $1.5M) with the new Ovi Store given the upcoming launch of the Nokia N97.