All Lumia users are set to benefit from a bunch of exclusive apps, none of which are currently available on the other Windows Phones devices, as announced yesterday by Nokia. These new exclusive apps include the ESPN Hub, AOL Entertainment Hub, the PGA Tour and an advanced Groupon app. Even though Groupon has already been introduced in the Windows Marketplace, users of Lumia are the first ones to be offered an upgraded version of the app which was launched in summer. The upgraded version has incorporated augmented-reality real time local virtual deals.
Lumia users will also be offered the ESPN Hub app which will update scores in real time on the home screen. The app also offers drill-down personalization. This app will be exclusively offered only to Lumia users until May next year. The ESPN Fantasy Football app designed for the Windows Phone is also expected to be introduced for Lumia later this year. The PGA Tour app will be exclusively available on Lumia for 12 months.
Buy the Nokia Lumia 900 starting at $49.
There’s more news for Lumia smartphone gamers as Nokia is planning to team up with Rovio, developers of the Angry Birds franchise. Together, they are planning to develop content and games particularly (including Angry Birds Space!) for Lumia range of smartphones. CEO of Rovio, Mikael Hed confirmed that they were looking forward to introducing their games on Lumia devices and for consumers of other Windows Phones devices as well. Angry Birds Space is soon expected to be available on devices running on the Windows Phones platform.
This move by Nokia to keep content on Lumia smartphones exclusive could help them beat the competition. With increasing number of apps being introduced regularly, Lumia is looking at fast expansion in the market, particularly because other WP OEMs don’t seem to be pushing too hard. Nokia is focusing on creating differentiation among their consumers, operators, developers and retailers by offering exclusivity, very often a key ingredient. The fact that Lumia and its exclusive apps are dependent on the software brings Nokia and Microsoft’s relationship into focus. This approach to provide exclusivity is similar to the approach opted by Apple in the past.
Nokia is also looking at introducing other leading titles like Madden NFL, FIFA, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, NBA Jam, Yahtzee, Mirror’s Edge, The Sims and Need for Speed through their partnership with Electronic Arts. Apart from introducing exclusive apps for Lumia users, Nokia is also working with PayPal, Box, TIME Magazine and Newsweek to introduce apps exclusively for their Lumia range.
Buy the Nokia Lumia 900 starting at $49.
