Nokia, Yahoo ink global pact for online services

World's largest cellphone maker Nokia and Internet major Yahoo! have entered into a global strategic alliance to strengthen their online services platform.

As part of the collaboration, both companies would leverage each others' expertise in e-mail, instant messaging, maps and navigation services on both personal computers and mobile devices.

"Nokia will be the exclusive, global provider of Yahoo's maps and navigation services, integrating Ovi Maps across Yahoo properties," the mobile phone maker said in a statement today.

Yahoo would become the exclusive, global provider of Nokia's Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat services, it added.

According to the statement, 'Select', a co-branded service offering, is expected to become available globally in 2011.

"What a combination... We believe that Nokia's strength and continued investment in maps and navigation will greatly enhance our existing products," Yahoo! CEO Carol Bartz said.