Yahoo! has filed for twelve new patent applications. The areas of application include podcast search engine, podcasts out to mobile devices, tagging podcasts and pictures and media files. Also included is a patent for inserting advertising into podcasting and a system for associating a media company with an audio file.


Podcasting is a made for mobile audio experience. Podcasting via mobile is set to explode in Europe with 3 UK and O2 Ireland launching mobile podcasting; Vodafone, Bouygues and SFR all trialing mobile podcast services at the moment and Vodafone Germany getting ready to launch.

So far branded mobile search companies have been quiet on the podcast front, these patents indicate Yahoo!’s ambitions. After reading the application I its interesting to vision the services that Yahoo! is attempting.

1. It is very likely that podcasts will be available within Flickr. The focus on tagging and media tagging and linking advertisers to audio files all indicates that Flickr will be used as a way of not only seeing pictures but a place for audio discovery as well. Pictures can be submitted next to audio files from consumers or advertisers to allow consumers to discover places of interest.

2. Tagging podcasts also delves in to ad tagging. I am not a fan of ad tagging, but there might be a space for pod tagging within Yahoo! Search Marketing. This would mean that sounds or songs or Music Services could include audio advertisements – not just video ones in between tracks. This would fuel a more “radio-like” experience for services which is essential as wireless devices get smaller.

3. With the podcast search engine, Yahoo! is playing catch up. There are several small companies already dabbling in mobile search for podcasting. This is not only the big names, but also smaller niche companies that could be eaten up by Yahoo! moving forward.

Competitive Implications
1. Podcasting is an aggressive new media. There are companies with a strong foot in the door already and they boast mobile meta-search engines.

2. A model for indexing podcasts could be achieved conveniently by a federated mobile search company via the means of a mobile content portal or database. This is a space that smaller companies are focusing in.

3. RSS could be a spanner in the works as RSS feeds and content syndication are a way of channeling and receiving the most up to date services on a daily basis.

Perhaps there is a need for an RSS advertising channel?