Nokia's call to Indian developers to create applications for the N97 has resulted in a slew of localised widgets and applications. Apple tread this path first by launching the App Store and inviting developers across the world to monetise their mobile applications by selling them to iPhone users. In the online world Facebook used applications on its platform to multiply usage; the most famous of the Indian applications of Facebook is Lexulous (previously Scrabulous), which once claimed to have revenues of $300,000 a year. With Nokia, Microsoft, Research In Motion (BlackBerry) and Android (Google) all looking at application marketplaces, content providers have an opportunity to create greater distribution for their content, and perhaps monetize the same for a revenue share. For the handset manufacturers, applications are a way of not just adding to revenues, but helping increase handset sales. Preloaded applications on Nokia's N97 include Accuweather, Facebook, Amazon, Reuters, Youtube and Hi5. At the time of the Ovi store launch, we were rather disappointed not to find any Indian applications. Nokia informs us of some applications and games developed for the N97 by Indian companies. The pre-loaded applications will be available for free, while, according to Nokia, the pricing for Ovi (apps) in India hasn't been decided yet. Some of the applications which will be made available on Nokia's Ovi Store, or pre-loaded, when the N97 is launched in India: Cricket & Darts: KrishCricket, the mobile game development gaming company from Cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth, has developed 2 light Java games for the N97. One is a dart game while…
