It is expected that the global mobile outreach of active users will reach 7.3 billion by 2014 which is expected to surpass the global population soon. Over 100 countries have the number of cell phone accounts exceeding their population. Where financial institutions and banks are unreachable, mobile is the most viable way out there to reach banks. A handy need to healthcare, education, financial, corporate and other information on mobile has sparked tremendous need of relative mobile applications. Understanding this need, several businesses including the healthcare sector are making a shift from web to mobile.

The increasing reliance on smartphones is pushing these businesses harder to find a shelter under mobile applications specifically developed to cater their business needs and generate revenue growth. The mobile app market in 2012 generated revenue of $12 billion and is expected to reach $63.5 billion by 2017. This shows the class of scope the space beholds for the app development companies. Not only new startups are mushrooming into this space, but the existing web services providers are expanding vertically to offer mobile applications for the major smartphone players of the market like Apple, BlackBerry, Nokia, Windows and Android platforms.

Keeping this in mind, siliconIndia presents you with "20 Most Promising Mobile Application Companies" wherein we bring to you a list of 20 such small companies who are creating buzz in the market with their mobile apps serving specific needs of the customers. A distinguished panel comprising of accomplished Indian CEOs & CIOs, VCs, analysts, founders of established VC funded companies including siliconIndia editorial board decided on the 20 companies listed here.