Global cell phone major Nokia has announced that, it will soon launch its much-awaited online application store, the "Ovi store". Nokia will launch its application store along with carriers in the UK, Italy, Singapore, Germany, Australia, Spain, the USA, Russia and Ireland. These Ovi stores are set to launch in May this year. The plans were detailed during the Forum Nokia Code Camp in Jakarta on March 11.

 

The "Ovi store" will feature some video offerings including mobile games from Nokia's N-Gage gaming service. Movies will also be part of the offering through Ovi store but it will not be a full-fledged video store. Besides, the store also will offer more casual games and such puzzles, which attract a wider audience. It is expected that the Ovi store will compete directly with Apple Inc's 'App store', as both companies battle to control the emerging smartphone market.

 

Nokia said the Ovi store will reach some 50 million consumers when it opens. Nokia will give 70 percent of all download revenue to developers if consumers pay by credit card. But Ovi developers will earn less per transaction if buyers elect to pay through their mobile operators.