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Yahoo! and Nokia yesterday announced a mobile web deal that will see them collaborating together to create a set of services so indepth that it aims to rival RIM, Apple, Google & Microsoft. The deal will see the internet giant powering Nokia’s mail and chat services while Nokia in turn provides Yahoo’s navigation services and maps.

The register reports that this recent partnership will see Nokia’s Ovi services being ‘powered by Yahoo!’.

Consequently, with Nokia's acquisition of the world's largest mapping data provider, Navteq back in 2007, Yahoo! will be provided with a significant boost in an area which it was previously lacking when compared to competitors such as Google & Microsoft.

Yahoo! CEO Carol Bartz stated at a recent press conference "Many of you know we haven't been focused a lot on our maps platform. This changes that.”

“By using Nokia's maps and Navteq services, it will be a much richer experience for users."

Bartz continued on to say "For us, this alliance has an especially important application in the developing world."

"Nokia has by far the strongest track record in these markets and now Yahoo! gets to leverage that position."

Both companies will retain their own branding rights for these new and improved services, which will acknowledge that they are 'powered by Yahoo!' or 'powered by Ovi' respectively.

The first combined services are expected to be launched in the United States later in the year, with a global roll-out expected early in 2011.