Melodeo’s Mobilcast wireless podcasting system will enable cellular phone users to listen to 45 National Public Radio (NPR) podcasts under a deal by both organizations announced today.
NPR offers a large number of podcasts and the Melodeo agreement makes it easier to users of cellular phones (those supported by Melodeo’s software) to access the radio network’s broadcasts. Melodeo is creating a branded channel for NPR podcasts, according to the Mobilcast press release.
The Mobilcast/NPR arrangement also offers podcasts from NPR station KCRW in Santa Monica.
Alternative methods
Of course, cellular users whose phones can accept .mp3 files could listen to the NPR podcasts by downloading the files into their phones via a computer cable, Bluetooth connection or a memory card.
Another way to listen to podcasts — including NPR’s — is by using Pod2Mobile’s streaming service via its WAP or Java client software. I listen to NPR Technology podcasts all the time on my multimedia phones.
However, I test many Sprint phones, such as the Samsung A920 and the A900, and Mobilcast’s software doesn’t yet work on those phones via Sprint.
A big deal
An entry in Mobilcast’s “Mobile Podcasting” weblog alerted me that some announcement would occur today at 9:00 a.m. (EST). The entry by Melodeo’s Rob Greenlee says, “It is a big time content deal for us and one that should really help establish the future of podcast listening on mobile phones.”
The more publicity about wireless podcasting products, technologies and solution — the better. Mobilcast isn’t the only way to listen to podcasts over cellular, as I’ve noted, but it’s one more way to facilitate wireless podcasting.
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