Ovi’s search algorithm was famously broken. Searching for "GPS" would return themes called "GPS Style Blue" before actual navigation apps. Top charts were gamed by theme makers. There was no user review system at launch. Nokia eventually added star ratings, but by then, trust was gone.
If you dig out an old Nokia N8 from a drawer and turn it on today, the Ovi Store icon will present an error message: "Unable to connect to service." The servers are offline. The SSL certificates have expired. The developers have long since moved on. nokia ovi store
However, the legacy of Ovi lives on indirectly: Ovi’s search algorithm was famously broken
Before it was just a store, "Ovi" was Nokia’s ambitious umbrella brand. Launched in 2007, the Finnish word for "door" was meant to be the portal to Nokia’s entire internet services strategy. It included Ovi Mail (which was huge in developing markets), Ovi Maps (which gave Google Maps a run for its money with free offline navigation), Ovi Share, and the Ovi Store. There was no user review system at launch
The idea was revolutionary: Nokia didn't just want to be the company that made the hardware; they wanted to own the ecosystem. They wanted to be the gatekeepers of your digital life.
| Metric | Peak Figure (Approx.) | |--------|----------------------| | Daily downloads | 4.5 million (Feb 2011) | | Total downloads (by 2010) | Over 1 billion | | Registered developers | 500,000+ | | Available apps (2011) | ~90,000 | | Developer payout (total) | €10+ million (by 2010) |
Despite large user base numbers, Ovi Store downloads per device lagged far behind Apple’s App Store and Android Market.