San Francisco, May 25 (DPA): Yahoo and Nokia announced a wide-ranging pact on mobile web services Monday as they seek to make up ground on rivals like Google and Apple.

The deal makes Nokia the exclusive, global provider of Yahoo's maps and navigation services, while Yahoo will become the exclusive, global provider of Nokia's Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat.

The two companies also said they will also integrate their sign-on systems to allow users easier access to services offered by the two companies.

Nokia, which is the world's largest maker of mobile phones, has fallen behind competitors such as Apple, Google and RIM in the lucrative smartphone market, while Yahoo has also seen its traditional web services eclipsed on mobile internet devices.

Leaders of both companies stressed however that their alliance positioned Nokia and Yahoo to lead the roll-out of the mobile web in developing countries.

Nokia chief executive Pekka Kalasvuo said the deal would bring enhancements to "customers across almost every country around the world, many of whom will have their first internet experience on their mobile".

Yahoo chief executive Carol Bartz said the alliance would bring "personalised experiences to more people across the mobile web, particularly in emerging markets where we are seeding the next generation of Yahoo users".