Podcasting 2.0: VoIP-powered
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Podcasting, every one now knows the term, consists of distributing mostly audio files over the Internet. When it comes to video, we call it videocasting. Easy portmanteau noun, easy guess. Now, voicecasting? What do you understand?
In fact, voicecasting copies podcasting, but with another “media”. Audio files, such as radio programs, are broadcast directly to the phones, mobile phones according to this definition found on Wikipedia.
Expected to boom
The benefits of using a mobile phone for listening to podcasts are becoming clearer as the quality of mobile networks improves, and mobile phones themselves become more useful audio devices by adding storage capacity and stereo capability.
For several months, some start-ups have been looking for a business model that could monetize podcasts. Odeo was the first. We don’t still know if they are profitable yet. But sooner or later, they or someone else will try the ad-supported podcasting model. Why not.
What can bring VoIP?
Voicecasting could also take this direction. Actually, it’s already done. For instance try podcasts from MobilCast. Nevertheless, the only problem is that the MP3 podcast format prevent it from becoming a major Internet distribution.
MP3 files are too large to be easily downloaded over the mobile network, requiring podcasters to re-encode them into a mobile-friendly format like AMR.
That’s how VoIP could help. As dual-mode phones are emerging, voicecasting could soon be available through wireless access points and mesh networks. The transfer rate will be very good, even better and faster than it is already today. So why not creating a kind of Sirius radio with VoIP technology. Here’s a clueless proposition:
- An applet informs users on new available programs.
- Users can download them or listen to them directly by streaming.
Imagine for instance, those tourists who could learn more about the last comedy played at the local movie theater. And it would be even better for local radios. People even away from their desktop computer would be able to listen to their shows.
Of course, those scenarios are not for tomorrow. But soon. What do you think?
Apr 3, 2006 | By Nuno
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