The invention of the mobile phone has seen a revolution not only in communication but in so many other ways – business, fashion and social networking.

It seems mobile phones could now be used to save a life and in a number of ways. For instance, Surf Report is software that can check the conditions on the sea before you venture out. The application gives information about the height of the surf, tide, swell direction and weather.

In a similar vein, iNavX Marine Navigation software produced by Apple enables your exact position at sea to be plotted which in turn helps guide you back home. With the growth in hobby sailing, this could prove vital.

The software also tells you if there is a storm on the way.

Another piece of tracking software that is now available for the smartphone is AccuTerra. This provides detailed maps covering 220,000 miles. As such, it should prevent you from getting lost if you are out and about in the countryside. For example, it provides information about the nearest camp site.

On a lighter note, there are two applications available which can help improve your health and fitness. The first called Couch to 5K provides the user with useful training programmes to get fitter and lose weight. Allied with this is Lose it! This counts calories.

Finally, if you are looking to stop smoking, try Quitter or if worried about your blood pressure, software of the same name will monitor it.