Nokia tempts dealers to Ovi with commissions for each application sold

Nokia is offering its credited dealers a commission for every Ovi Store application or service sold, in a move intended to boost uptake of Nokia’s online portal.

The manufacturer is hoping it can increase sales from the store by monetising the downloadable content and offering dealers commission on each sale of an Ovi service. It is the first time applications have been sold in this way.

Nokia began a trial with 15 Credited Nokia Service Points (CNSP) in London on Monday (20 July), with a provisional commission of £2 per service.

The manufacturer met with CNSP representatives at the London Regent Street Nokia store to put forward the proposal last Thursday (16 July). The CNSPs have been sent links to an online site enabling them to sell the services.

Dealers will give feedback on the new system throughout the trial, which develops a unique business relationship between retailers and manufacturers for the downloadable content.

At the meeting, Nokia also laid out plans to deduct the cost of services from a customer’s bill, pending network support.

One dealer involved in the trial said: ‘As a dealer, my company now has a commercial relationship with Nokia.’

The manufacturer aims to have 300 million users on its mobile services by the end of 2011, Nokia’s chief executive, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, said last week.

Nokia has been embroiled in a battle with Apple and Google’s Android for supremacy of the mobile platform with the best experience, applications and functions. So far, Apple and Google appear to have stolen a march.

Nokia is reportedly in discussions with networks to introduce a 50/50 revenue share model, as the desire from operators to subsidise phones dwindles.