In a recent article, The Fast Company did a piece on the most Innovative Companies in the space of mobile technology.

I chose to examine a few of their top picks to see what exciting things are taking shape in the field of mobile media, and if their chosen companies truly earn a spot on the Top 10 innovator list.

Foursquare » The Ultimate Way to Check in

Foursquare is a location-based mobile platform that makes cities more interesting to explore. By “checking in” via a smartphone app or SMS, users share their location with friends while collecting points and virtual badges. Foursquare rewards you for “checking in” at shops, airport terminals, and basically anywhere else.

Foursquare guides real-world experiences by allowing users to bookmark information about venues they want to visit and surfacing relevant suggestions about nearby spots. Brands leverage the foursquare platform by utilizing a wide set of tools to obtain, engage, and retain their customers.

eBay » Innovation in Mobile Shopping

Within the past year eBay has managed to upgrade and transform itself from an auction site to mobile, mainstream, and fashionable way to engage customers in the mobile shopping experience. eBay has prioritized mobile commerce and pushed their way into the space where cell-phone and iPad users can now find products at the nearest outlet of more than 50,000 U.S. retailers by simply using an application. This application is powered by localized data from Milo, a product-based search engine eBay acquired for $75 million in December 2010.

The overall results of the mobile oriented efforts? I would say that the numbers are pretty impressive. The company sold almost $2 billion worth of goods via smart phones and tab-lets in 2010, more than double the total sales from 2009.

Epocrates » Revolutionizing the drug reference system

Epocrates’s easy-to-use drug-reference program for mobiles and laptops allows medical professionals to make smart prescribing decisions with the click of a button, and 45% of U.S. doctors have already signed on.

Epocratesis are now developing an additional platform to give doctors access to patients’ electronic health records, allowing for instant treatment recommendations.

Voxiva » Promoting good health via mobile applications

D.C.-based Voxiva is an innovative mobile health-coach which targets a variety of users suffering from health issues such as diabetics and smokers. The programme was initially launched in developing countries where mobile phones tend to be a more accessible point of entry to Internet use.

Voxiva’s applications work on any mobile device and process health data from the user. For example, smokers attempting to quit can have the application analyze their cigarette intake and create a personalized plan to being smoke free.

So far, the health programs have more than 100,000 users, and cofounder Paul Meyer’s goal is to get more than a million users by 2012.

These are just a few examples of the innovating ways in which mobile media is transforming our world. From a customized shopping experience, to a highly personalized shopping plan and a unique way to explore your city, mobile game changers are gaining momentum and revolutionizing the way in which we live, work and play.

Read more posts by Agnes Sokol

Agnes is a bright spark in the growing leagues of young digital professionals and has already racked up an impressive list of projects around the world, She has a penchant for cause-related marketing working with the likes of Unicef, Thabo Mbeki Foundation and The Just Cause. Agnes also works closely with the “Beers for Grumpy Programmers” Foundation set up at the World Wide Creative studio, where she spends much of her time. Check out her blog and her Twitter profile to pick up on that American sass!

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