Just a week after offering its free navigation software, Nokia announced that its Ovi Maps has exceeded 1.4 million downloads.Nokia’s Executive Vice President, Anssi Vanjoki said, “When we announced free walk and drive navigation, we knew it would be a game-changer. The number of people now using their Nokia for navigation, and as a result looking for more location-aware software, is growing faster than even we predicted.”

According to Nokia, the success of the new version of Ovi Maps is a key part of the company’s strategy to lead the market in mobile maps, navigation and location-based services.

“By leveraging its investment in NAVTEQ, Nokia has been able to remove the costs associated with navigation for drivers and pedestrians and is quickly activating a massive user base to which it can offer new location features, content and services,” says Nokia.

From next month all new Nokia GPS-enabled smartphones will include the new version of Ovi Maps preloaded with local country map data, high-end walk and drive navigation and access to Lonely Planet and Michelin travel guides.

Ovi Maps covers more than 180 countries with car and pedestrian navigation for 74 countries, in 46 languages, and traffic information for more than 10 countries. There are more than 6,000 3D landmarks for 200 cities around the world. In addition, Lonely Planet and Michelin guides provide information on more than 1,000 destinations globally.