In a curiously-worded press release, Nokia today divulged a number of upcoming Windows Phone apps and games, only some of which are exclusive to its Lumia lineup of Windows Phone handsets. The point here, from what I can tell, is to show some kind of platform momentum.
"We are focused on delivering great, locally relevant apps, and importantly, those which offer unique, exclusive and original experiences," Nokia senior vice president Marco Argenti says in the press release. "With Nokia Lumia smartphones now available in 48 markets, developers are rapidly recognizing the business opportunities and creating their best work for our consumers."
New and updated apps and games coming this year to Windows Phone include:
PGA TOUR. Due in late June for Lumia handsets and co-developed with Nokia, the official PGA Tour app will provide live tournament scoring, highlights and player information, interactive coverage of select events and holes, and more.
ESPN. Already available exclusively on Lumia handsets, this front-end to ESPN’s web site will remain exclusive to Lumia through May 2013, according to Nokia. New features coming soon include sports scores on Live Tiles, team-level panoramas, personalization of scores, leagues and teams, and additional sports coverage such as Tennis, NASCAR and the 2012 Olympics.
Angry Birds Space. We already knew this one was coming to Windows Phone, and Nokia confirms it will be available to all Windows Phone handsets, not just Lumia devices. However, Nokia and Angry Birds maker Rovio will “partner to develop innovative new consumer products and content exclusively for Nokia Lumia smartphones.” No word on what those will be, however.
FIFA, Madden NFL, NBA Jam, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR, Mirror's Edge and Yahtzee. These major EA games will soon be arriving on Windows Phone (and not just on Lumia).
Groupon. “An extensive upgrade of the Groupon Windows Phone app” is due in Summer 2012. It will be exclusive to Lumia customers for 6 months and then will be made available to all Windows Phone users. New features include an “augmented reality deal discovery function to combine map and Points-of-Interest (POI) data with what is seen via the camera's viewfinder, enabling users to see virtual Groupon deals, in real-time, nearby.”
Tripdots. Exclusive to Windows Phone for three months, this app will monitor your driving habits and provide achievements for fuel efficient driving. It’s not clear when this app will arrive, however.
PayPal. Available to all Windows Phone users, the official PayPal app was co-developed with Nokia.
AOL Entertainment Hub. Exclusive to the Nokia Lumia for 6 months, this app provides an “immersive and inter-connected experience on Windows Phone,” with SHOUTcast music streaming, free music albums with AOL Listening Party, movie trailers and listings, and more.
TIME Magazine. TIME for Windows Phone, coming soon, will be available to all Windows Phone users.
Newsweek: The Daily Beast. Newsweek is also coming to Windows Phone along with its digital partner The Daily Beast.
Box. Available to Lumia customers this summer, the Box app provides “simple, secure sharing from anywhere,” and will support nine languages.