Although the applications of the Hollow Cathode Discharge (HCD) are not confined to the analytical field, it is here that this low-pressure excitation source has gained most of its popularity. Atomic absorption, atomic fluorescence and atomic emission spectrometry greatly benefit from HCD properties such as high stability of discharge, sharp profile of spectral lines, low background intensity, applicability to samples in various physical forms and ease of determination for non-metals. With the obvious exception for atomic absorption spectrometry, there has not been the expected widespread utilization of the HCD over the years, nor have manufacturers been significantly attracted by the relatively low costs of production and maintainance of HCD-based instruments. One of the factors hampering a wider distribution of this source could be the somewhat limited intensity output achievable when the discharge is operated under conditions which fully preserve its basic features. Thus, the exploitation of the HCD for the analysis of trace and ultratrace elements, is severely limited. No wonder therefore that so much effort has been recently prompted for developing new versions of the HCD capable of promoting radiation intensity enhancement. The most promising of these comprise coupling with magnetic field, boost through auxiliary electric discharge, modifications of the cathode geometry, application of radiofrequency bursts, use of pulse-current regime, superposition of microwave field and separation of the atomization and excitation processes. The consequent increase in signal-tonoise ratio, already very favourable in the HCD as it is not in local thermal equilibrium, further expands its analytical potential. Some representative analytical applications of the improved HCD tubes are illustrated.