Nokia Download! for PC, Yay or Nay?

Since its release , I've been playing around with Nokia's Download! for PC and sort of enjoying it. 

For the past month or so I've been trying to get a thorough understanding of exactly how Download! itself works.  By works I mean the available content.  How and to whom its available for, region or provider, and provision rights.  The conclusion that I've come to thanks to some research is that Download! is tied to your sim card and content is available via approved rights of the content owner to the providers.  This explains why carrier-specific devices, such as the N75 do not include Download! or Catalogs.  The N75 is an AT&T/Cingular specific device and has been loaded with its provider Catalog which is Media Mall.  No we don't like it, but thats the way it is.

I've been experimenting with different sim cards, T-Mobile UK, T-Mobile US, Sonera and AT&T.  I've been able to see different content available to the regions that the sim cards are based in and since the Sonera card that I have didn't include a data plan I was still able to download new content by connecting via WiFi. 

Now my impression many months back as to why the content is different was thoroughly explained to me that the content owners such as EA Mobile, Warner Bros., Sony have to approve the rights to offer the content.

Now back to Download! for PC.

First let me start by saying that initially this service is fully functional for the Nokia 6110 and 6120 Navigation devices with limited functionality for others for right now.  I was able to browse and select content using my N95, but currently the My Nokia section doesn't offer a spot to log in. 

Content management is very easy once you can maneuver your way around and in this case I used the T-Mobile UK sim because it offered the most content. 

The application offers both device and pc management and allows you to view already installed content on your device.

Most of the applications that I checked out were purchasable via reverse sms.  This allows a user to purchase content and have it billed to their wireless bill.  Other methods include a weblink being opened and puchase being made through Bango.net. 

The only thing that I question is why the need for the additional Download! mobile application.  It appears that it offers the same thing as the initial app, so why the extra?

How are you using Nokia's Download for PC?  Yay or Nay?

Comments

[Robert Webbe]

I never knew that there was a Download! for PC. I am always using the Download! mobile application. For my N95 I have download the Nokia Mail for Exchange (pushmail client), Nokia XpressPrint (Photoprintservice) and the Windows Live plugin (Messenger and Windows Live Hotmail).

Here in The Netherlands we have Vodafone flatfee data for € 9,50 a month (3.6 Mbps HSDPA speed).

I always thought that the productcode was the key for the type of content which apeared. You can find the productcode below the battery (indicated with code).

[Bazza]

I'm sure the the extra Download app is there to serve as a means of testion the BETA pc version without damaging or affecting the existing preinstalled download app.
I'm sure once all feedback has been collected and the software has been polished and finalized, there will be an update that upgrades the existing download app for it to work seamlessly with the finished pc counterpart.

Logical approach really. Afterall, this is a software that has been released by beta labs for testing and not neccesarilly for mass consumption yet.

Hope that clear it up abit for you Darla.