But with the merging of mobile internet marketing and customer tracking via GPS comes the latest incentive for UK businesses who wish to push local advertising.

There is a whiff of ‘big brother’ when you consider you will be targetted by businesses advertising on the internet because technology knows exactly where you are, when using your mobile phone or PDA to browse the internet or send emails

This technology is already available, and Microsoft are stepping up their mobile services in an attempt to claw back some of the market that has been lost to Google.

Microsoft have suggested that e-mail and instant messaging applications for mobile phones will now display advertisements for the first time. Windows Live will also show advertising.

According to The Times Online, mobile advertising spending in Western Europe is expected to rise from $1 billion in 2007 to $1.5 billion this year, according to eMarketer, the research firm.