Tech blog

HELSINKI, Finland - Nokia and travel information company Lonely Planet aforesaid Tuesday they are joining forces to sell maps and city guides that can be accessed on mobile phones.

The world’s largest handset maker reported users of Nokia Maps can now download information about more than 100 popular tourist locations provided by Lonely Planet, and that more destinations were planned. Each download costs 7.99 euros ($11.75).

“The Lonely Planet guides will help travelers to find great places to eat, shop and sleep, as well as describing the popular sights and nightlife for each destination,” Nokia said.

Downloads are available in the Extras menu onward Nokia phones. Nokia Maps 2.0 uses maps provided by Navteq and TeleAtlas.

The world’s top handset maker is increasingly providing Internet services for its mobile customers. It estimates the global online market will reach euro100 billion ($150 billion) by 2010.

Nokia has recently signed up Warner Music, Sony BMG and Universal Music Group to provide music downloads for handset users. Last year, it unveiled new Web-based services and gadgets to help customers download music and play games on handsets — part of a strong germinate to challenge rivals such as Apple’s iTunes and iPod.

In 2007, Nokia Corp. sold nearly 440 million handsets accounting for 40 percent of all global cell phone sales. It is based in Espoo near the Finnish capital and employs 116,000 people worldwide.

Lonely Planet is a global travel information company with regional headquarters in London; Victoria, Australia and Oakland, California. It has more than 360 writers, researchers and photographers, producing travel books, digital guides, wireless applications and television programs.

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On the Net:

Nokia: http://www.maps.nokia.com.

Lonely Planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com.