Windows Phone 8 to replace Bing with 3D Nokia Maps across the platform and integrate Skype in the phone book

posted by Daniel P. / Jun 12, 2012, 4:12 AM

Windows Phone 8 to replace Bing with 3D Nokia Maps across the platform and integrate Skype in the phone book

Windows Phone 8 is to replace Bing with Nokia Maps entirely, says the latest rumor, and introduce 3D maps with offline navigation across all platform devices. Thus in that regard Windows Phone will have an advantage before Android and iOS, since its maps and voice-guided navigation don't require Internet access.

Another juicy tidbit what might be unveiled next week at Microsoft's developer conference is that Skype will be integrated directly in your phone book, and used as a phone service, but Microsoft will leave the space open for other 3rd party communication apps as well.

Apart from the massive backend overhaul of Windows Phone 8, replacing the Windows CE with the WinRT kernel that is used in Win 8, Microsoft has added a number of front-end improvements as well, such as a new direction for the camera app, similar to Lenses. The camera interface improvements are apparently spearheaded by Nokia, as Chris Weber pointed out in an interview, with the determination to bring a Lumia phone with the PureView camera tech to retail.

source: WPCentral

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8 Comments

1. neutralguy

Posts: 1152; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

I see what you did there microsoft, Having a space for a third party up. Learning from your mistakes! Nice job! :)

posted on Jun 12, 2012, 5:05 AM 7

2. cdgoin

Posts: 614; Member since: Jul 28, 2010

Actually, I like the new Mango version of Bing maps much more than Nokias.. maybe its just me. Also I find 3D is superfluous, 2D directions work just fine.. 3D is not only overkill it slows things down and is just doing it because you can, not because it helps any. I'm not playing a video game, I am getting directions to somewhere. Also the "OFFLINE" Maps take forever to download and when I tired to download the complete US on my Nokia 710 it crashed. SHould have a feature to download a REGION. Not just a state, as I had to download VA, PA, MD, NC, WV, SC, GA, FL - Would have been easier to download the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Overall, except for that featuer, I see no benefit of Nokia Maps over Bing.

posted on Jun 12, 2012, 6:19 AM 2

3. tward291

Posts: 559; Member since: Feb 14, 2012

i wouldnt be surprised if ms announced that all future windows phones would be made soly by nokia but other oems could make tablets.

posted on Jun 12, 2012, 6:53 AM 1

5. snowgator

Posts: 3614; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

I actually wouldn't be surprised, although as a Samsung fan and an admirer of HTC I hope you are wrong. Both those companies need to focus on some exclusives. That would not only help them in WP8 offerings with their Hubs as well as their Windows RT tablets, but also help them continue to develop their Android offerings. Smaller manufacturers such as ZTE and Fujitsu making WP handsets for limited areas will probably always happen.

posted on Jun 12, 2012, 7:15 AM 1

4. snowgator

I have gotten used to Bing maps, so I am not excited by the Nokia system. But I like that Nokia is contributing to the Ecosystem, and it's map service is more respected than Bing. It can only help with the perception that WP8 is big time. I do hope you can shut off the 3D options of the service, though. I agree with you: I want directions that are quick and accurate, not fancy graphics that add load time.

posted on Jun 12, 2012, 7:11 AM 1

8. Penny

Posts: 1844; Member since: Feb 04, 2011

Well I agree with you in the sense that I like Bing Maps for its simplicity and ease of use. Just enter your address get voice guided navigation, no fiddling around or unnecessary complexity. Tap anywhere to hear the next direction or to get new directions. That being said, I've never used Nokia Maps before for navigation, so I can't say whether it will be easier or more difficult to use. It should be accurate at the least, since Nokia owns Navteq. The online version of Nokia Maps is also pretty cool to play with; the 3D rendering is great.

posted on Jun 12, 2012, 1:23 PM 0

6. dickwyn

Posts: 621; Member since: May 07, 2012

i actually like the nokia maps better than google maps. personally

posted on Jun 12, 2012, 7:47 AM 2

7. jack1059

Posts: 72; Member since: Mar 31, 2012

Nokias been bought by ms in all but name. So ms pilfering nokia tech is no surprise. Soon it'll be a race between ms and Samsung has to who buys Nokias massive patent portfolio.