The new version of Ovi Maps includes high-end car and pedestrian features, such as turn-by-turn voice guidance for 74 countries in 46 languages. Traffic information is included for several countries as well as detailed maps for more than 180 countries.

"Before, navigation was always a premium service, which had to be paid for by the end user or the mobile operator," said Chrisof Hellmis, vice president for location services at Nokia. "As of today, navigation is free."

Nokia's announcement potentially grows the size of the worldwide installed base for GPS navigation on mobile phones from about 27 million to about 50 million, the company said. Ovi Maps features maps gained from the company's acquisition.

"You have a full-blown navigation system on the screen of your mobile phone," Hellmis said.