Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox browser, has released technology that helps websites detect the physical location of computers.
The system will allow users, for instance, to find local restaurants when they travel to a new town.
The Geode project is an experimental add-on ahead of a full blown launch of geolocation technology in version 3.1 of Firefox.
Users will have control over how much location information they give.
It uses technology from a firm called Skyhook which works out a computer"s location from nearby wireless networks.
Its so-called Loki system can determine location within seconds with an accuracy of about 10 to 20 metres.