Fadcasting?

Interesting research from the US is shedding doubt on whether podcasting is really a lasting phenomenon or just another fad.

The survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found 12% of US people online had downloaded a podcast, compared to earlier research this year that showed only 7% had taken the step. However, just 1% of respondents said that they would download a podcast on a typical day.

Podcasting has got a lot of media attention lately - Ricky Gervais etc - and it might be worth having a bit of a reality check to see just how much is hype and how much is substance.

Video will undoubtedly play an important part in the next evolution of the Internet and interactivity, but whether podcasting will remain in Vogue is debatable as IPTV. Mobile TV and other on-demand TV style services develop.