Despite over 14,000 podcasts at the PodcastingNews Directory, Apple's 4th quarter iPod shipments topping 14 million, and the term 'podcast' being declared Word of the Year for 2005 by the New Oxford American Dictionary, podcasting remains a relatively unknown concept. Utilizing an online Virtual Expo Center, the International Podcasting Expo will make Podcasting information, resources and services available to anyone with an internet connection.

(PRWEB) March 21, 2006 -- Podcasting is exploding. Apple shipped more than 14 million iPods in its 2005 4th Quarter, according to Robert McMillan, IDG News Service. Forecasters predict up to 60 million people will be downloading podcasts by the year 2010.



What does this mean for podcasters? It means that their targeted listening market is increasing every day. People with iPods, as well as MP3 players, PDAs and Cell Phones with digital audio players, are looking for quality content in their areas of interest.

Although the Podcasting Community includes such large organizations as IBM, Oracle, Purina, Philadelphia Eagles, Purdue, Notre Dame, CBS, Nintendo, and the NYPD, a majority of the world still has not heard the word "podcast", nor does it understand podcasting's usefulness for education and business, as well as entertainment.

The International Podcasting Expo, April 21 - 23, 2006, hopes to change that. This online Podcasting Expo will be a 48 hour, around-the-clock event, taking place within an online Virtual Expo Center. Therefore, anyone in the world with an Internet connection can attend.

Events will include a 48 hour live Podcast Marathon in a 500 person cross-platform audio conference room, with Internet presentation and recording capabilities. Podcast listeners can attend (and even participate in) live podcasts with their favorite podcast personalities. The recorded podcasts will be immediately posted on a special Expo Podcast feed.

Expo Attendees can participate in seminars and conferences, which will be held in another cross-platform audio conference room. All seminars will be recorded and posted in the Seminar Library, so late-comers can still review the sessions they missed.

Expo organizer, Penny Haynes, of 1st Podcast Publishing, wants this to be a grass roots expo that allows any podcaster from any country to participate. "The Expo is presently looking for international podcasting hosts to lead seminars and conferences in their own languages, so they can reach their own market during their own time zone. These chosen International Hosts will receive a free Exhibitor booth for their assistance in expanding the reach of podcasting around the world."

The first Exhibitors to come on board include Kelly McCausey of Work At Home Moms Talk Radio, Tammy Munson of Republican Women Talk Radio, Shane Matsumoto of Paradigm Lost Productions, and Lisa Boyd of Zeteo Solutions. The International Podcasting Expo is truly "By Podcasters and For Podcasters."

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