Poynt Corporation has struck a deal with Nokia to preload its mobile platform, timesPoynt, a joint initiative of Poynt Corp. and Times Internet, on all Nokia Lumia 710 and Nokia Lumia 800 smartphones in India. timesPoynt is available on these devices from today.

timesPoynt is a free app powered by data from Timescity.com, that enables users in India to locate and read information and reviews on restaurants, nightlife, events and movie theatres, along with weather information. Like the flagship Poynt mobile platform, timesPoynt allows users to click-to-call businesses, get directions, browse listing websites, send details to a friend, or add listings to their device calendar or address book.

The Nokia preload marks the company’s second distribution agreement with a handset manufacturer in India, both of which followed closely after the October 17, 2011 launch of timesPoynt. Earlier this month, the company announced that the Poynt mobile platform was immediately available on all new and existing Samsung Android devices, a deal that positions Poynt on-device in all nine countries the company operates in, including India. Poynt says that distribution agreements with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Nokia, are key to national marketing campaigns in India.

To monetize timesPoynt, the companies plan to leverage the Times Group’s relationships in India with advertisers, agencies and merchants. It plans to market and promote timesPoynt through all its media vehicles, such as radio, television, magazines and newsprint. OEM preloads are key to targeting the more than 858m mobile subscribers in India, says Poynt, as they allow users of specific devices, such as Nokia and Samsung, to discover the best apps for their device, with the least time spent searching.

“Preloads of Poynt Corp’s mobile platforms on leading OEMs such as Nokia have proven to drive dramatic increases in adoption and retention rates,” says Poynt Corp CEO, Andrew Osis. “As a result of this agreement, smartphone users in India will see timesPoynt when they utilize their devices, which will drive significant traffic and revenue through this mobile platform. The company is currently pursuing additional preload opportunities with carriers and device manufacturers globally in order to maintain strong user growth and retention.”

To date, Poynt, including timesPoynt, has been preloaded or distributed with eight mobile carriers and device manufacturers throughout the company’s operating geographies, with five of those occurring in 2011. These preloads include deals with major carriers such as Sprint subsidiaries Virgin USA and Boost Mobile USA, Cricket, Wind Mobile in Canada, Virgin Media and Vodafone in the UK, as well as globally with device manufacturer Samsung, and now Nokia in India.

Poynt Corp. recently revealed that it had experienced a 50 per cent increase in user activations for Poynt on Black Friday (25 November 2011). The company believes this reaffirms how instrumental preload and distribution agreements are to the platform’s continued growth and success. Based upon internal reporting metrics, Poynt believes the increase can be attributed to new user activations on Samsung Android devices in the US.