Abstract: A geocomposite element, particularly for enhancing plant growth, which possesses water permeable sheathing elements as well as a material that absorbs water placed in a cavity made by the sheathing elements, characterised in that it possesses a skeleton structure (3) that forms a cavity for the absorbent material (4) and a sheath (2) located on the surface of the skeleton structure. The present invention is of use in agriculture, gardening, construction and environmental engineering as an article for retaining water due to which it is possible to stabilise water equilibria which are conditional to plant growth as well as for the aggregation of other substrates influencing correct and effective plant growth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for enabling location data for a user 110 to be included in communication messages from the user 110. A communication message is received from a mobile device 103 of the user 110 wherein the communication message is addressed to or intended for a location based service 107. A request message is transmitted for a location data of the mobile device 103 to a mobile operator 105 of the user 110. A response message is received from the mobile operator 105 wherein the response message includes the location data for the mobile device 103. The communication message is processed to include the received location data for the mobile device 103 and the processed communication message is transmitted to the location based service 107.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling communication. An apparatus 102, for example, a routing logic component may receive user control settings relating to a user 103, 105, may receive application control settings relating to an application; and may receive operator control settings relating to an operator 107, 109. Communications between a device 104, 106 of said user 103, 105 and said application 112, 113 and between said application 112, 113 and said operator 107, 109 based on one or more of said user control settings, said application control settings and said operator control settings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for maintaining the privacy of a user 103, 105 and/or user's mobile device 104, 106 when communicating with an application 109, 110. Communications between a mobile device 104 of a user 103 and an application 109 are controlled wherein the mobile device 104 is identified by a first identifier for communications between a gateway 102 and the mobile device 104 and the mobile device 104 is identified by a second identifier for communications between the gateway 102 and the application 109. The methods and apparatus translate between the first identifier and the second identifier, and determine whether the communications between the mobile device 104 and the application 109 are enabled or disabled.