It looks like Nokia’s proprietary map solution, Nokia Here will definitely be making its way to Android and iOS (again) in the near future.
Last week, Nokia posted this job listing on LinkedIn, in search of a “Mobile Developer (Android), HERE Crowd Mapping” in Frankfurt, Schwalbach or Berlin. The Job Description details the need for an “experienced mobile app developer to create an entirely new type of community-driven mobile app (Android) targeting a global audience”. In a similar job listing for a Software Engineer, it says the engineer “will design and build advanced location-based services applications for the Android and iOS platforms”.
Nokia Here is currently exclusive to Windows Phone devices, particularly the Lumia range where it sees full-on integration. However Android and iOS users have access to a heavily watered-down experience of Nokia Here the web. There was indeed a native version of Nokia Here for iOS, but it was discontinued last year, due to inconsistencies with the new iOS 7 design language.
It is worthy of note that even though Microsoft has acquired Nokia‘s hardware division, they have no control over the software division. So there is a very good chance Nokia Here going cross-platform is more of a reality than a rumour. Should it see the light of day, it may turn out to be a really smart decision from Nokia.
