“Fast Company” has announced its annual “Most Innovative Companies” issue, which honors major brands including Apple (naturally), Facebook, Google, Cisco, Disney, and GE, along with such rising newcomers Intermap Technologies, Foursquare, and Clearwire.

Overall, “Fast Company” recognized 250 plus companies, including the Top 50, 59 Innovation All-stars culled from past Top 50 honorees, plus ranked the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in 24 categories, including advertising and marketing, biotech, film and TV, media, music, and mobile. Intermap was named in the top 10 mobile companies list that also included Apple, Google, Amazon, Ford, and others.

To create this year’s Most Innovative Companies issue, “Fast Company” had its editorial team analyze information on thousands of businesses across the globe. It’s not just about revenue growth and profit margins; it’s about identifying creative models and progressive cultures — to define the many forms of innovation that exist across the business landscape, says Fast Company editor Robert Safian.

The Most Innovative Companies issue (March 2010) of “Fast Company” is on newsstands now, and is online at http://www.fastcompany.com/MIC .