Location technology firm Mexens Technology has unveiled a software application which it claims can place a virtual global positioning system (GPS) in almost any computerised device.

Mexens' Navizon API allows businesses with an online presence to install software in a web-based application which triangulates the signals from surrounding Wi-Fi access points.

The application identifies the exact location of the end user in order to deliver targeted, location-based content.

Mexens believes that software developers will be able to use the Navizon positioning engine in their own mobile applications, making it 'location aware' even on standard devices not equipped with GPS.

The virtual GPS device could be used by high street chains to indicate their closest point of presence, or allow travellers to locate themselves on a laptop and find their way to their next destination.

Mexens also suggested that security and payment processing companies could deploy the technology as an extra layer of protection against fraud.