What happens when audio-blogging (or
podcasting) meets Voice over IP? Well, some Asterisk geniuses I know decided to answer that question. (And Phone
Boy decided to test those geniuses' theory.)Coalescent Systems the creators of the excellent Asterisk Management Portal, a web GUI system for the already legendary Asterisk open source PBX, have introduced a whole new service geared around two of my favorite subjects--VoIP and Podcasting.
The service is called Gabcast. It's a social broadcasting platform. What does THAT mean, you ask? Well check this out, from the Gabcast FAQ:
Gabcast is an exciting new service that allows people to voice their opinions, stories, etc. for the rest of the world to hear! Once you create an account online, you dial into your Gabcast account from any phone in the world, record an episode, and people all over the globe can listen to your ramblings. Going travelling? It's a great way to keep friends and family in touch!
So, Gabcast is essentially podcasting-gone-voice blogging, marketed (at least so far) in a manner similar to Blogger or Typepad. But what I find really exciting about Gabcast is just how EASY its creators have made it to create the voice blogs. You can record via your choice of VoIP providers and softphones, or use a traditional telephone to "call in" your voice blogs. Check it out:
You can call the Gabcast service in a number of ways.
Telephone: US: 1.800.749.0632 Toll-free! (Note: this number will only work in the US.)
Toronto: 1.416.628.7108 (long distance charges may apply)
Calgary: 1.403.668.1579 (long distance charges may apply)
FreeWorldDialup: Our FreeWorldDialup number is: 702681
Gabcast will also support Asterisk, the Gizmo softphone, Express Talk, and TelTel via SIP calling.
Listeners to Gabcast episodes are able to track Gabcast updates using a standard RSS/XML interface that comes standard as a part of the service, too. There's even a tutorial that shows how to download the podcasts to iTunes, and how to subscribe to RSS feeds in iTunes. Gabcast's creators are on to a number of other web 2.0 innovations, too, including tagging.
I can't tell you how cool this is, just go check it out!
1. Ive had the ability to do this via audioblog.com for a year or more now.
Posted at 3:13PM on Feb 10th 2006 by Zach