Reiter's Wireless Podcast Report

Motorola to launch podcasts for ROKR, advertise on The Podcast Network

Motorola this Monday (October 17) will launch the first in a series of podcasts for its new Apple iTunes-based ROKR cellular phone sold via Cingular Wireless as well as becoming an "anchor" advertiser for The Podcast Network, according to an article in Macworld, a press release on The Podcast Network's Web site and a Motorola "ROKR Booth" Web site (see below).

Macworld says, "Motorola will release a podcast for its ROKR iTunes phone next week -- one of the first podcasts on the planet to feature legally-licensed music from big name music acts....Recorded in New York in September 2005, the podcast features hip-hop innovator Common speaking with DJ Gilles Peterson. It features songs chosen by the pair to illustrate the conversation....

"In addition to the Common/Peterson recording, two speech podcasts complete the Motorola series: Music journalist Robert Elms and DJ Bobby Friction take the listener on a guided walk around the venues that shaped London's music scene and DJ/actor/MC Ramon Rodriguez and journalist Tom Terrell host a tour of New York's five most important nightspots."

Advertising

Motorola Mobile Devices will be the first site-wide advertising tenant, for three months, of The Podcast Network.  Motorola will use banner ads and audio commercials to promote the ROKR and possibly other products and promote "the edgier side of the Motorola brand," according to a press release from The Podcast Network.

In addition -- and what's interesting to me -- Motorola will "offer podcasts with senior Motorola executives on a number of topics from handset design to mobile music," according to the release. 

Moreover, "Motorola will give podcast listeners the opportunity to interact with Motorola executives by allowing them to submit their own questions to be posed in upcoming podcasts."

Submitting questions?  That could be very interesting.

Insider's view

For an insider's perspective on The Podcast Network/Motorola deal, check out the weblog entry of Cameron Reilly, CEO and co-founder of The Podcast Network.

Reilly writes, "Motorola is a major-league player and hopefully their entrance into podcast advertising signals the beginning of the big guys taking an interest in reaching out to the podcast-listening audience."

(I'm a fan of The Podcast Network and I especially like the "G'day World" podcast interviews where Reilly is one of the two hosts.)

inCode Wireless posts its third podcast

Eventually, a wireless company that posts a podcast about, well, wireless, won't be a big deal.  But for now, I think it's useful to promote the few wireless companies that are employing podcasts.

The wireless consulting company inCode Wireless today posted its third podcast about wireless industry trends.  I previously mentioned the company's first and second podcasts.

MGOTO to produce broadcasts for Internet, mobile devices

From an article about video on demand broadcasts (vidcasts) in "Physorg.com" I learned that John Lee has developed MGOTO to produce broadcasts for the Internet and mobile devices.

Unfortunately, that's all I learned.  I can't find out any other information about MGOTO.

Anyone know more?

Producers Guild, Emmy committee, New School, Parsons to present podcast (and wireless) discussion

A free two-hour discussion on "Podcasting:  The Next Big Broadcast Phenomenon?" -- including wireless -- will be held in New York on October 18.  (No press release available, at least now.)

The event is sponsored by The Producers Guild of America New Media Council, The Emmy Awards Advanced Media Committee, in cooperation with the New School Department of Media Studies and Film and the Parsons Department of Design and Technology.  It will be held at 65 Fifth Avenue at the Swayduck Auditorium.

Panelists include Jason McCabe Calacanis, chairman and co-founder of Weblogs, Inc.; Robert Spier, manager of Online Station Services for National Public Radio; Jordan Lyall, founder of Podfly.com and Peter Rojas, editor-in-chief of Engadget.  The moderator will be Shelly Palmer, chairman of the Advanced Media Committee of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS).

Attendance is free but reservations are required by e-mailing pga-ny@producersguild.org.

"Paradigm shift"...and mobile

Palmer says in the press release, "The paradigm shift from network to networked television is happening, and the ability to search for content -- particularly user-generated content -- on the Web is now reaching a tipping point where producers actively build in online promotions and extensions of content to increase awareness and distribution of original productions.

"The podcast phenomenon has created a greater dialogue around syndication of Web content, and how the mobile Internet enables a new kind of interaction between producers and consumers.”