Nokia Ovi’s App Wizardry
1:10 PM -- Thanks to Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK)’s new Ovi App Wizard, there’s an app for me, and it only took 10 minutes to make it.
As a nice little extra for anyone with an RSS, Twitter Inc. , or Facebook feed, Nokia introduced Ovi App Wizard today, a seven-step process to create your own app and then deliver it across the 180 countries where Nokia has a presence. Simply enter your RSS field, pick some colors, choose whether or not to include ads and how to distribute it (including if you want to charge), and you’re on your way.
The beta software program, accessible at Ovi.com/appwizard, lets verified (meaning that you can prove you own the content) users aggregate their Web feed into a mobile-optimized app of sorts. Pending approval, which Nokia says takes around 24 hours, your app becomes available in whichever markets you choose.
It’s pretty slick, easy-to-use software, albeit one with lots of potential to go awry. It could lead to some less-than-desirable apps being made, although Ovi reserves the right to deny them. It also contributes to the general app overload thrust on consumers who often don’t even know where to start searching.
And for Nokia, it’s an easy way to say “we have 100,000 new apps” without having to mention that 10,000 of them are people’s Twitter feeds. This would never fly on Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL).
But, come on, you can app yourself and make your friends and family buy it. That’s pretty cool. I hope someone downloads me.
— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile
As a nice little extra for anyone with an RSS, Twitter Inc. , or Facebook feed, Nokia introduced Ovi App Wizard today, a seven-step process to create your own app and then deliver it across the 180 countries where Nokia has a presence. Simply enter your RSS field, pick some colors, choose whether or not to include ads and how to distribute it (including if you want to charge), and you’re on your way.
The beta software program, accessible at Ovi.com/appwizard, lets verified (meaning that you can prove you own the content) users aggregate their Web feed into a mobile-optimized app of sorts. Pending approval, which Nokia says takes around 24 hours, your app becomes available in whichever markets you choose.
It’s pretty slick, easy-to-use software, albeit one with lots of potential to go awry. It could lead to some less-than-desirable apps being made, although Ovi reserves the right to deny them. It also contributes to the general app overload thrust on consumers who often don’t even know where to start searching.
And for Nokia, it’s an easy way to say “we have 100,000 new apps” without having to mention that 10,000 of them are people’s Twitter feeds. This would never fly on Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL).
But, come on, you can app yourself and make your friends and family buy it. That’s pretty cool. I hope someone downloads me.
— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile
