Nokia Drive app update in the works for offline support

One of the exclusive features that Nokia Window Phone devices have over other competing Windows Phone devices is its Nokia Drive app. The app is Nokia’s 3D satellite navigation system that allows for the user to download maps and store it for future use. However despite the ability to download maps, it would imply that it could be used for offline purposes, right? Wrong. It seems that while maps can be downloaded, an internet connection is required for routing.

That might sound like bad news for some who plan to use the Nokia Drive app heavily as a form of GPS, but the good news is that Jurgen Thys Mans, Nokia’s Communications Manager in the Netherlands, has confirmed that an update for the Nokia Drive app is in the works which will provide full offline access. It will be interesting to see how Nokia pulls this one off since it uses the GPS to recalculate its position every few seconds. Unfortunately no word on when Nokia Windows Phone users can expect the update, but at least we have official word that it’s being worked on.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: Apps, GPS, Nokia, nokia drive, Windows Phone 7