My OVI store experience

Few days back I downloaded my very first application from OVI store.

To being with OVI store is Nokia’s virtual store where developers upload applications and consumers can easily download them.

I started off by using the OVI store shortcut on my N95

The application opens up with the below screen.

By default a list of Recommended downloads are shown along with a search bar on the top. Searching for Hi-N-Bye was quite quick and straightforward. The application was listed after search, clicking on which took me to the details page.

The Application Details page specifies all application related information in a neat layout.The cost of the application along with its rating is specified on top. There is a BUY button to continue with the buy process.

The button is followed by the application description section which allows informs about the application Type and Size. The description section is followed by some screen shots of the application and User reviews.The details page also has options to recommend the application to a friend. Lists of related applications are shown.

Clicking on the BUY link requires the user to be logged in. Once logged in the user is taken to the purchase page where in the mode of payment is specified and the purchase is completed subsequently.

Once the purchase is confirmed and completed the application is downloaded which is followed by the Installation procedure. The client takes of downloading and installing the application.

That is one less worry for the user who now does not need to search for the downloaded application and start installing it.

Ovi Store Impressions :

The store layout is well-organized. The applications are categorized into four main categories.

> Applictions
> Games
> Audio & Video
> Personalisation

There is also a Recommended category which recommends applications from the above categories.

Along with the categories there is another way in which the applications are catalogued in the store. They are the “Channels”

Channels are a way bringing together similar content together around a certain theme, more like grouping applications across categories into particular themes.

For Example consider the News&Sports channel seen above. Selecting the channel lists out applications from all categories which are into News and Sports. The result list out games like Ovi Maps Racing,Mini Golf Challenge ..etc,,Applications like Map My tracks,Endomondo Sports Tracker etc.. Personalization stuff like Asphalt 4: Elite Racing Theme and so on.

Cataloging applications through channels makes it easier to discover similar content in the Ovi Store but so far the potential is yet to be explored.At this point , Channels are only created by Nokia but it would be awesome if it goes public. Users can make a channel of the applications which can be shared. We can have locale specific channels, Model specific channels, Cost specific channels..so on the options are endless. If implemented through proper governance this would make the OVI store truly awesome and easy to use.