Since it’s release at the beginning of 2009, our location-aware, mobile application, Qype Radar, has been downloaded 290,000 times. Today sees the latest iteration of the application, launched for Android phones (and coming soon to Apple’s iPhone), which introduces a suite of new features including the availability of special offers, a redesigned interface, reviews from Italy, and real time updating.

The I’m Here tool was one of the most requested by the Qype community, and allows users to broadcast their location in real time using email or social applications such as Twitter and Facebook. Each I’m Here message includes a link to the place data on Qype, so recipients can view reviews, address details, phone number, and a map.

Stephan Uhrenbacher, founder and chairman of Qype, said, “Radar’s real time updating combines a sharing and social component with a very practical approach. It allows users to not only track where they’ve been, but to also broadcast their location on the go, along with a wealth of information such as the Qype reviews. It makes meeting up with people that much easier.”

Qype vouchers have also been included in this new version of Radar, so you can track down exclusive discounts and special offers while you’re on the move. Plus the whole interface has had a makeover, making the whole thing that bit slicker; and of course we’ve added all the reviews from the recently-launched Qype Italy.

The new version of Qype Radar is available today for Android handhelds and will be released for the iPhone soon.