Retrieva, a maker of GPS dog-collars, and ViewRanger, mobile phone satellite navigation specialists, have announced updates to their combination of dog collar and software for tracking your dog on your mobile phone.

The Galileo Application Days in Brussels last week did something that too few technical gatherings do effectively - the event drew in droves of non-technical visitors. They came to interact with dozens of location and navigation applications that demonstrated what the Galileo project might deliver, writes Christopher Backeberg...

Aetna, the American diversified health care benefits company, will extend its online services for members with the launch of a location-based services (LBS) app next month.

Yandex, the leading Russian search engine, will partner with the AlterGeo hybrid positioning startup to add location-based features to the Yandex maps and toolbar web applications.

Philadelphia-based marketing company Monetate has responded to the growing demand for mobile e-commerce by introducing Monetate Mobile, a location-aware product for adapting Internet retail websites for satisfying use on mobile phones.

This will be the year of Don't Drive Into A Tree, judging by the steady stream of new location-aware applications for safer driving. What's in the app stores or about to become available ranges from inspired to idiotic, writes Christopher Backeberg...

Sygic has completed a major upgrade of its Mobile Maps Europe turn-by-turn, voice-activated navigation app for the iPhone. The update includes a new user interface, new design and additional features.

TomTom has stated that it doesn't feel threatened by the offers of free navigation software from Google and Nokia. When free nav arrived last year there was industry speculation that it spelt doom for paid navigation.

Tourism Vancouver in partnership with SatSports and HTC has launched City Smart, the world's first completely interactive tourist and sporting event mobile application. The app includes location-based services (LBS) and street navigation.

The GSMA has created an alliance of operators and manufacturers to develop a single open platform for mobile applications. This was announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) last week.