Once the Nokia Ovi online store opens in May, Nokia are hoping to offer a wider and more tailored range of software and media will attract when they go head to head with the Apple iTunes App Store.

With more than 500 million apps downloaded in less than half a year, Apple has proven there is revenue to be had from app stores in the mobile arena, and everyone including Nokia wants a piece of that action.

Nokia’s market though is potentially larger and says the Ovi store will reach upwards of 50 million customers on opening while the Apple iPhone has sold less than 20 million so far. But this is still no guarantee that Nokia Ovi store will be a huge success as Nokia has to gain experience in getting those customers to pay for apps.

So can Nokia beat Apple in the apps stakes?

Source — Reuters