Nokia announces apps from Rovio, EA, etc., some are exclusive

At CTIA Wireless 2012, Nokia announced that in order to further enthusiasm for the Windows Phone platforms, the company has tied up with certain developers to launch apps exclusive to Windows Phone for certain time periods. The company said that there are currently 80,000 apps in the Windows Phone store, which of course, indicates that the OS has a lot of catching up to do to the Android and iOS application numbers. The Windows Phone OS is currently available in 48 markets and Nokia is adamant that developers build apps specifically for the platform, taking advantage of the tile format, rather than just port their existing apps. Marco Argenti, SVP, Nokia Developer Experience says, “We are focused on delivering great, locally relevant apps, and importantly, those which offer unique, exclusive and original experiences.”

Nokia wants more apps for more users

The exclusive apps are spread across multiple genres, including sport, finance, entertainment and gaming. In sport, Windows Phone users will get a PGA Tour application, covering PGA tour events, which will be available in late June this year and will be exclusive to the Nokia Lumia platform for 12 months. Also in sports is the ESPN app which will be exclusive to the Nokia Lumia platform till May 2013. Additionally, a Windows Phone version of the ESPN Fantasy Football app will launch exclusively on Nokia Lumia smartphones this coming Fall.

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In games, users can look forward to multiple Angry Birds titles coming to the Windows Phone platform, including the recently dismissed-for-Windows-Phone, Angry Birds Space. Rovio is building a dedicated design and development team to create games for Nokia Lumia smartphones and the wider Windows Phone ecosystem, with the goal of developing and publishing all future Rovio titles as soon as possible. Rovio CEO Mikeal Hed says, “Nokia is one of our longest-standing partners, and Windows Phone and Lumia are of strategic importance to Rovio. We are very committed to bring our games to Lumia devices, and are looking forward to delighting our fans on the Windows Phone platform.” Nokia had previously tied up with Rovio mobile to promote NFC capabilities on their phones by launching “Angry Birds Free with Magic”. EA has also agreed to bring multiple titles over to the Nokia Lumia devices as well as the Windows Phone platform.

In the lifestyle section, Groupon will bring an app exclusive to the Nokia Lumia platform for six months from launch. The app will include a newly developed augmented reality deal discovery function to combine map and Points-of-Interest (POI) data with what is seen via the camera’s viewfinder, enabling users to see virtual Groupon deals, in real-time, nearby. Tripdots will also be made available exclusive to Windows Phone customers for three months from launch. Tripdots helps vehicle owners optimize their driving behaviors while connecting with other vehicle owners and sharing driving efficiency achievements via social networks. The app lets users monitor the operation of their vehicles to enable cost savings through better understanding fuel economy. 

In the finance section, PayPal is coming to Windows Phone. Furthermore, in the entertainment section, the AOL Entertainment Hub is coming to Nokia Lumia devices exclusively for six months after launch. In news, Time Magazine is launching an app for Windows Phone and Newsweek is bringing their Daily Beast app to Windows Phone. Finally, in the productivity section, Box is bringing an app for Windows Phone. With support for nine languages, Box for Windows Phone will enable users across the globe to browse, search and share files from their account.  Nokia convincing the bigger boys of development to get on the Windows Phone bandwagon should push smaller developers to get on board as well. Would you buy a Windows Phone device or do you think the apps are lacking? Let us know in the comments below.