Bamboo MediaCasting and Britcaster to Deliver ''MobiPod'', a Mobile Podcast Service for the Mass Market

LONDON-- July 17, 2006--

"The UK is at the forefront of podcasting," says Neil Dixon, co-Director of Linked Media, creator of Britcaster. "The first podcast to enter the Guinness Book of Records was British, as was the first newspaper to publish podcasts. With MobiPod, we are once again breaking new ground by delivering a podcast service perfectly suited to the mass-market mobile user."

Bamboo's pioneering "Push, Store, & Play" mobile media solution is the perfect way to bring podcasting to the mass-market. "We are bringing podcasting to the mainstream with an easy-to-use mobile service," says Guy Morag, CEO of Bamboo, "and users can personalize their content mix - that's an essential aspect of intimate, phone-based services."

User Convenience, Network Efficiency - and a Huge Potential Audience

"There's great natural synergy between podcasting and our background delivery solution," says Monte Silver of Bamboo, who heads the project. "Most popular podcasts are updated regularly, but only early adopters will initiate a WAP-pull session every time to find that content, and then patiently wait for delivery of a large podcast file. Instead, our 'Push, Store & Play' service brings the podcast to the user, for instant, one-click access."

Adrian Pegg, fellow Director of Linked Media Ltd., which specialists in aggregating podcast content channels, stresses the importance of push-fed delivery: "The explosive rise in the popularity of podcasting is in no small part due to its delivery method: straightforward subscription with automated, regularly updated delivery. The MobiPod service, for the first time, replicates this highly successful format on mobile phones and cuts out the need to use a computer to organize and subscribe to podcasts. This is a truly mobile solution."

MobiPod lets users subscribe once to their favorite podcasts, then receive their personal selection of podcasts automatically. Full track, 30-40 minute podcast updates are delivered off-peak or overnight, and are waiting on the handset for one-click access at the user's convenience - such as during their daily commute to and from work. The Bamboo service platform supports Java, Symbian Windows Mobile, and BREW-based cellphones, and can efficiently distribute large files of any type, which means long-format podcasts and video clips can be part of the content mix.

The result is a service that benefits all parties:

-- Users enjoy a customized service with unprecedented ease of use: their personal choice of podcasts updates automatically, with no effort, and are instantly available. And the full track podcasts play smoothly, even in cellular "dead spots" like tube/subway tunnels or areas of poor connectivity.

-- Service Sponsors can flexibly package content in a mix of subscription and one-off promotions, and support mass markets efficiently and cost-effectively using off-peak tariffs for background delivery. Bamboo's end-to-end solution covers all aspects of service, from initial Web/phone-based user subscription to content distribution and charging. A robust suite of service management tools simplify service packaging, content handling, and customer support.

From a Podcaster's perspective, MobiPod offers great promise both in terms of reach and branding. "We started our show a year ago, and have just passed the 2 million download mark," says Brian Luff, whose Comedy365 podcast is one of the leading podcasts in the UK. "But the ability to reach over 55 million mobile phones in the UK alone will tremendously expand my reach. And the ability to customize the MobiPod client is very important. Branding is vital, and I can extend my Internet look to the mobile phone."

MobiPod will initially offer the leading UK Podcasters, and the service will be available to subscribers of all cellular operators, in UK and globally. Users will initially be able to subscribe to several podcast channels of leading Comedy and Music podcasters, as well as to the popular Richard Vobes Radio Show.

Personalization and Convergence

By bringing podcasts to the cellular subscriber, MobiPod allows users to access the content of their choice across networks and devices - a perfect example of the mobile service opportunities in the new era of convergence, says Silver. "People want to access personally relevant content on whatever device they own, whether they are in front of the PC, or on the go."

To subscribe to MobiPod, visit: http://mobipod.britcaster.com

About Bamboo

Focusing on the user experience, Bamboo's background-push, store-and-play solutions replace cumbersome "click-and-wait" interactions that restrict the market appeal of mobile media services. Users find a personalized mix of the latest audio, video, and interactive content on their handset, always just a click away. A customizable handset interface makes service interaction easy, and extends branding to the phone.

Bamboo's robust, end-to-end service solution, offered to Operators and Wireless ASPs, covers all aspects of mass-market mobile media service, from Web or handset-based service registration, to third-party content handling, and efficient media delivery using background and off-peak distribution technologies. Any type or size of media file can be delivered to large user volumes. A comprehensive administrative suite includes tools for service packaging, traffic and service tracking, charging and customer support.

About Linked Media/Britcaster

Linked Media Ltd. (www.linkedmedia.co.uk) was created to form a conduit between independent podcasters and content distributors, particularly within the mobile sector. Through partnerships with technology developers, Linked Media seeks out new and innovative ways for podcasters to reach wider and more diverse audiences by aggregating content and simplifying the process of licensing and contracting content supply.

Britcaster.com lies at the heart of UK podcasting; a place to experience and sample the quality and diversity of independent podcasts being produced in the UK. Britcaster.com also forms a hub for podcasters and podcast listeners to connect with each other through public discussion forums and has provided an invaluable and unique opportunity for podcasters to network and collaborate, resulting in many leading-edge projects such as the world's first dedicated podcast conference in September 2005 (PodcastconUK). Britcaster.com itself is a non-commercial entity, working with independent producers to enhance the presence of UK podcasting throughout the world.