We often praise Nokia Beta Labs for redefining the definition of impossible, and its latest creation simply continues the trend. It's called Nokia Nearby, and it equips phones without Maps or even GPS with location-based search abilities. 

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The current generation of Nokia devices are well catered for in the mapping department – even Series 40 phones these days are coming out with GPS chips on board – but entry level handsets, particularly in emerging markets, generally have to do without in order to keep costs down.

However, Nokia Beta Labs isn't letting that minor inconvenience get in the way and has created Nokia Nearby, a location-based service that doesn't rely on mapping or GPS whatsoever, but instead uses the internet connection on your phone as a makeshift GPS receiver.

It's all about providing localised search the provides real value. Once the app has been loaded up, you'll immediately be presented with a list of categories to search within, including Eat and Drink, Entertainment, Shopping, Transport, Sight Seeing, Business and Services, and Facilities.

Select one of these categories and Nokia Nearby will then search for results concentrated in your area and present a list of options, ordered by distance from your current location, with the nearest at the top of the list.

If you've found what you're looking for in the results, select the venue name and Nokia Nearby will provide you with an address and phone number. Press the Call button at this point and you'll automatically be connected, all without leaving the Nokia Nearby app.

Other options include the ability to share a venue's details – useful if you're meeting a friend for dinner, for example, and if you've had a good time you can save the venue to your favourites list, or have the number added to your phonebook to make things easier next time.

Now obviously if you've got a Nokia N8 tucked away in your pocket Nokia Nearby isn't going to change your life (though for the record, Nokia Beta Labs has been installed on a Nokia N8 and works fine).

It's primarily aimed at Series 40 handsets in developing markets where always-on internet is neither practical nor affordable.

That said, there's nothing stopping anyone else from giving it a try too – in fact, Nokia Beta Labs would welcome any feedback on how it could improve Nokia Nearby still further before it reaches a final release.

To download Nokia Nearby, or find out more information, head over to Nokia Beta Labs now.