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Better understanding of bremsstrahlung and modern experimental techniques, especially the use of GeLi detectors for the determination of weak γ-impurities, may today allow to make wider use of bremsstrahlung counting in the metrology of radionuclides. Therefore, present theoretical and experimental knowledge of the different types of bremsstrahlung is first briefly reviewed. Then some known or possible applications of bremsstrahlung counting and corrections for bremsstrahlung in other methods are discussed. Finally the 4π β-bremsstrahlung coincidence method for the measurement of pure β-emitters of nuclides decaying by pure electron capture is described and some new experimental results are presented. Conclusions concerning fundamental principles of coincidence counting can be drawn from these results.