The much anticipated Nokia Ovi Store will launch with 20,000 items, says Executive VP of services Niklas Savander, a number much higher than that of most rivals when they just launched.
The store is set to launch in mid-June and will include short-form videos, games and other general apps.
Nokia will also use the GPS in many of its smartphones to filter content, with most “local tools getting more prominence when a user is in the area.”
In comparison, Apple launched the App Store with 500 apps, and the Android Market recently opened with only 70 apps. Apple now has over 40,000 apps however.
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eBay commented on the future of the Skype VoIP service on Tuesday, indicating that it intends to spin-off the subsidiary through an initial public offering. The emergence of this news casts doubt on any potential sale back to the original founders, who reportedly were keen to get their hands on the service once again. eBay had made some indications in recent times that it might sell Skype.
Shareholders will be pleased with the news, as they have been pushing for a sale of Skype or a spin-off. “We believe operating Skype as a stand-alone publicly traded company is the best path for maximizing its potential,” eBay Chief Executive John Donahoe said in a statement. He added that there were few synergies with the larger company.
eBay acquired Skype in 2005 for $2.6 billion from Niklas Zennstrom, from Sweden, and Janus Friis, from Denmark. When eBAy signaled it may be ready to unload the company for the right price, Zennstrom and Friis reportedly began seeking to raise a billion dollars from private equity firms. The auction giant was reported to be expecting no less than $1.7 billion for the company.
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Rumors have begun circulating that eBay is actively looking to offload Skype and that search engine giant Google is a willing buyer.
Skype, which was purchased by the auction company in 2005 for $3.1 billion USD, has not shown eBay the growth it expected and now it seems the company would rather get rid of it then continue to try to turn a profit. For fiscal 2007, the VoIP service recorded a decent sized loss which led to the ousting of CEO Niklas Zennstrom.
It is not sure whether Google wants a partnership or to purchase the company, but both eBay and Google refused comment for the time being.
More information as it becomes available.
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