Seth Godin observes that podcasting could become a subscription-based service. I see it as being very useful when used to narrowcast to small, captive audiences. For the moment, podcasting –may because it sounds a lot like broadcating, and web radio– is being treated in a one-to-many fashion. But to make it really worthwhile for both the producer and the audience, it could be used to communicate at a personal level and to small groups.

I just completed an article on podcasting for IABC’s magazine, CW (upcoming Sept-Oct issue) where I suggest a big leap when wireless iPods, WiMax and camera phones with MP3 players become common. An audio newsletter could be beamed at empoyees one day, and they could download and listen to their manager’s presentation at an international conference the next…

On a personal note, I was hoping someone at the IABC international conference now on in Washington DC would do just that. Maybe next year this time…