The online software and content store Nokia Ovi, customised for Indian customers, is expected to be available by September 2009. The company is planning to launch its music store and Nokia messaging service, the mobile email service, for India at the same time. Nokia Ovi offers full catalogue of applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services.

Vineet Taneja, director marketing, Nokia India said that Ovi for India is at the beta version and will be officially available in the third quarter 2009. He said that the company was taking to mobile operators for billing their customers for Ovi. “As of now, the customers can buy products and services from the store using credit cards. But we will also offer the billing mechanism through operators and are also planning to offer pre-paid cash cards,” he said. He said that the Ovi store would be customised with local content prior to the launch.

On Thursday, Nokia launched the N-series touchscreen device, N97, with preloaded Ovi store. The device is likely to be available in the market by the end of this month. With 48 GB memory (32GB internal and 16GB expandable), 5 megapixel camera, GPS receiver, Qwerty keyboard, the smartphone is priced around Rs 35,000.

Adding competition to the service offerings, handset maker Sony Ericsson also launched the content service platform ‘PlayNow’.

Sudhin Mathur, general manager, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications India said, “Our focus is on expanding the range of content that we offer to consumers through global and local partnerships. With PlayNow, Sony Ericsson provides integrated hardware, applications and services that enable consumers to seamlessly discover and consume content as they desire.”