It was only a matter of time before Ovi Maps got a serious competitor, and Google Maps now seems to be that nemesis. The service was already widely available, but it now offers free turn-by-turn navigation – just like Ovi Maps. However, how do they stack up against each other? Join us after the break to find out how Ovi Maps gets on against the newcomer, and if Nokia’s free service is still the best…

Ovi Maps 3.03 made a huge difference to the sat-nav world when it was released at the beginning of this year, offering a premium turn-by-turn navigation service for nothing. We’re that impressed that we’ve abandoned our dedicated sat-nav, bought a car holder and been using devices such as the Nokia N97 Mini for in-car satellite-navigation.

Now there’s also a free sat-nav version of Google Maps, we’re spoilt for choice, but can it compete with Ovi Maps? In lots of ways, the simple answer is No. Perhaps the biggest difference is the fact that Ovi Maps can download all of its maps to your Nokia, so you won’t need a mobile signal at all.

This is a Godsend when driving round London, or anywhere else with a poor signal, and also works out completely free if you download the maps via your home Wi-Fi connection. The best thing is there are no hidden charges – what you see is what you get. Google’s sat-nav service always needs a signal, so you could end up with a huge bill if you don’t keep an eye on your data charges.

The same applies if you go abroad – where data charges can run into the thousands of pounds. Once again, download Ovi Maps over Wi-Fi, and away you go. With Google, you could be left with a four-figure bill simply for trying to find your hotel. Ovi Maps is also available to download worldwide, whereas Google is currently restricted to a couple of countries.

The integration of a full Lonely Planet guide into Ovi Maps also makes it feel like a much more premium product than Google Maps. In short then, Google has a long way to go if it’s to better Ovi Maps.