Connecting Consumers with Service Providers

1 . A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

receiving by a first mobile device an application that executes on the first mobile device associated with a consumer, the application comprising a plurality of graphical user interfaces, the graphical user interfaces having one or more fields that are populated with information received from a central, brokerage system;

sending by the application executing on the first mobile device a request to consult with a service provider;

populating one or more fields of the plurality of graphical user interfaces with information received from the central, brokerage system, to render a visual representation of present availability of one or more service providers;

receiving by the application a selection of a particular service provider; and

establishing through the brokerage system by the application a communication channel between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with a selected service provider.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving from the first mobile device a request for the application; and

sending the application to the first mobile device.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a first graphical user interface in the plurality of graphical user interfaces comprises:

a link for each corresponding available service provider, with selection of the link causing generating of a second graphical user interface to be displayed on the first mobile device, the second graphical user interface including one more details of a service provider associated with the selected link.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprises:

generating, by one or more computers, a first graphical user interface that when rendered on the first mobile device displays one or more first links through which the consumer searches for available service providers.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating, by one or more computers, a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays, for the service provider, a first link, selection of which indicates that service provider accepts the request, and a second link, selection of which indicates that the service provider declines the request.

6 . A computer program product embedded in a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing a first mobile device to:

receive an application that executes on a first mobile device associated with a consumer, the application comprising a plurality of graphical user interfaces, the graphical user interfaces having one or more fields that are populated with information received from a central, brokerage system; and

configure the application to:

send a request to consult with a service provider;

populate one or more fields of the plurality of graphical user interfaces with information received from the central, brokerage system to render a visual representation of present availability of the one or more service providers;

receive a selection of a particular service provider; and

establish through the brokerage system a communication channel between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with a selected service provider.

7 . The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising instructions to:

receive from the first mobile device a request for the application; and

send the application to the first mobile device.

8 . The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein a first graphical user interface comprises:

a link for each corresponding available service provider, with selection of the link causing generating of a second graphical user interface to be displayed on the first mobile device, the second graphical user interface including one more details of a service provider associated with the selected link.

9 . The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

generate a first graphical user interface that when rendered on the first mobile device displays one or more first links through which the consumer searches for available service providers.

10 . The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays, for the service provider, a first link, selection of which indicates that service provider accepts the request, and a second link, selection of which indicates that the service provider declines the request.

11 . An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer program product embedded in a computer readable medium for providing broker services to consumers and service providers, the computer program product comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

receive an application that executes on a first mobile device associated with a consumer, the application comprising a plurality of graphical user interfaces, the graphical user interfaces having one or more fields that are populated with information received from a central, brokerage system; and

configure the application to:

send a request to consult with a service provider;

populate one or more fields of the plurality of graphical user interfaces with information received from the central, brokerage system to render a visual representation of present availability of the one or more service providers;

receive a selection of a particular service provider; and

establish through the brokerage system a communication channel between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with a selected service provider.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a first graphical user interface comprises:

a link for each corresponding available service provider, with selection of the link causing generating of a second graphical user interface to be displayed on the first mobile device, the second graphical user interface including one more details of a service provider associated with the selected link.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

generate a first graphical user interface that when rendered on the first mobile device displays one or more first links through which the consumer searches for available service providers.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays, for the service provider, a first link, selection of which indicates that service provider accepts the request, and a second link, selection of which indicates that the service provider declines the request.

15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays for the service provider a visual representation of a measure of estimated demand for a specialty associated with the service provider.

16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the particular graphical user interface when rendered on the second mobile device further displays:

a link, selection of which allows the service provider to update an availability status of the service provider, and

a visual representation of a number of consultations with which the service provider has been engaged, with the number of consultations comprising one or more of a number of complete consultations, a number of incomplete consultations, and a number of cancelled consultations.

17 . The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays for the service provider a visual representation of a measure of estimated demand for a specialty associated with the service provider.

18 . The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein a particular graphical user interface when rendered on the second mobile device displays:

a link, selection of which allows the service provider to update an availability status of the service provide, and

a visual representation of a number of consultations with which the service provider has been engaged, with the number of consultations comprising one or more of a number of complete consultations, a number of incomplete consultations, and a number of cancelled consultations.

19 . The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays for the service provider a visual representation of one or more of suggested topics to discuss with the consumer of services, a patient health summary, medical conditions associated with the consumer of services, and medication associated with the consumer of services.

20 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

generate a particular graphical user interface that when rendered on the second mobile device displays for the service provider a visual representation of a measure of estimated demand for a specialty associated with the service provider.