Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)

The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) about VoiceIndigo may answer any questions you have about VoiceIndigo.

Listener FAQs
Listener FAQs

What is VoiceIndigo?

VoiceIndigo is a free service making it easy for you to listen to inspiring, entertaining, and informative digital audio content, anytime, anywhere, from any artist or publisher who chooses to distribute their works as podcasts.

We make it simple for listeners to find, filter, manage, listen and share digital audio content in the most simple and convenient manner possible.

VoiceIndigo makes podcasts mobile. Using our service at www.VoiceIndigo.com together with the applications we've developed for various mobile phones, we bring podcasts to your mobile devices with ease. We continue to work on additional ways to bring you content and support a wider variety of client devices. Stay tuned.

See the VoiceIndigo Listener Bill of Rights

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How much does VoiceIndigo cost?

Nothing. It's free for listeners to use.

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What kind of stuff can I listen to?

No matter your interest, there is likely a podcast for you. Browse the VoiceIndigo directory of podcasts, or explore the VoiceIndigo curated channels under Feed Me.

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How do I obtain and install VoiceIndigo Mobile?

The following are the steps to install VoiceIndigo Mobile:

  1. Register at www.VoiceIndigo.com. During the registration process you will be given the option to "text message" (SMS) yourself the application. (If you originally chose not to text message (SMS) yourself the application during the registration process, then when logged in you can always go to the 'Go Mobile' section of your account, and check the box that says 'Send me a text message to download VoiceIndigo Mobile to my phone'.)
  2. We then send you a text message (SMS) with a URL link in it. You click on the link to launch your mobile phone's Web Access Protocol (WAP) Browser. Check your phone's user manual on how to select a URL link in a text message. The command to do so may be listed as "Go To URL" or "Use Details" under your phone's Option menu. You will be asked whether you want to download and install VoiceIndigo Mobile. Downloading VoiceIndigo Mobile takes about 30 seconds over a normal cellular network connection.
  3. After VoiceIndigo Mobile has been downloaded, installation process will start automatically. You may choose to install VoiceIndigo Mobile in the phone memory or an external memory card. We recommend the external memory card.
  4. After VoiceIndigo Mobile installation is completed, VoiceIndigo Mobile launches automatically. If your phone does not support automatic launching of an application that has just been installed, you can launch VoiceIndigo Mobile from the phone's main menu. Look for an icon with the VoiceIndigo's logo (round "play" button) with the words VoiceIndigo underneath it.
  5. At the first launch of VoiceIndigo Mobile, you will be prompted for the username and password you have chosen during your registration in step 1. After you have filled in the Preferences, your mobile phone will start the first Update Channels operation to bring your podcasts to your mobile phone.
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Which phones does VoiceIndigo Mobile support?

Please see our mobile phones page for a list of supported phones.

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What if my handset does not support VoiceIndigo Mobile?

The VoiceIndigo Mobile is clearly the best way to enjoy audio content on your mobile phone.

However, if we do not currently support your handset, do not despair:

  1. You can enjoy VoiceIndigo by listening to podcasts on any WiFi enabled PDA, laptop, or MediaCenter PC without a separate mobile client.
  2. If you can receive text messages (also known as SMS) on your mobile phone and access the Internet through your phone's WAP Browser, you can use VoiceIndigo [mobilize] to receive podcasts.
  3. You can leverage VoiceIndigo with iTunes or the Yahoo Music Engine by using VoiceIndigo to centrally manage your content and iTunes or YME to download to your portable media player.
  4. Not only do we continuously work to port VoiceIndigo Mobile to a wider variety of handsets, but our engineers at VoiceIndigo Labs are working on a new solution to deliver podcasts to the majority of mobile phones produced in the past 6 months or so.

Stay tuned.

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Do I need a data plan from my carrier to use VoiceIndigo Mobile?

Yes. We recommend an 'all you can eat' data plan. Most carriers in the United States have these available for as low as $15/month.

For Cingular, ask for their MEdia Net Unlimited data package. For T-Mobile, ask for their T-Mobile Internet data package. Sprint offers a package called PowerVision.

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Will I be able to receive phone calls while listening to podcasts with VoiceIndigo Mobile?

Absolutely. VoiceIndigo Mobile downloads podcasts audio files to your mobile phone while you are not using the phone. While you are listening to your podcasts, there are not network activities. In fact, you don't even need to have cellular network coverage when you are playing back your podcasts. When a phone call comes in while VoiceIndigo Mobile is playing back your podcasts, you will see the Caller ID on your phone's screen. If you choose to take the call, audio playback stops automatically. Depending on your phones make and model, playback may resume automatically when you hang up your call, or you may have to click on the Play button to resume where you left off.

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Can I use iTunes, Lemon (formerly known as ipodder), or the Yahoo Music Engine together with VoiceIndigo?

Yes. VoiceIndigo enables you to create a URL from any Channel to which you subscribe in the VoiceIndigo system. This URL can be pasted into iTunes or the YME and used to download podcast content to your portable MP3 player. (We'll be making this easier for you in the future.)

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What are Channels?

Channels are a collection of podcast series. For example a news channel might include a podcast from the BBC, ABC News Nightline, and KRCW Left, Right, and Center. Each of the series publishes an episode on a periodic basis (i.e. daily).

Channels come in handy, because you can set preferences at the channel level. For example you can choose to synch a collection of podcasts to your mobile phone by selecting preferences at the channel level, or you can choose to share channels with others by making them public (or in the near future available to specified groups).

VoiceIndigo enables you to build channels, subscribe to other's public channels, or just be lazy and use VoiceIndigo curated channels.

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Does VoiceIndigo support Video?

Not at the moment, but we plan to. Our infrastructure is built with this in mind. First however, we're going provide the absolute best experience delivering digital audio.

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Podcaster FAQs

What is VoiceIndigo?

VoiceIndigo is focused on delivering your content to the farthest corners of the blogosphere, the web, and mobile network edge while creating an excellent experience for listeners. As a result we are becoming a premiere distribution vehicle for podcasters.

VoiceIndigo is a free service making it easy for consumers to listen to inspiring, entertaining, and informative digital audio content, anytime, anywhere, from any artist or publisher who chooses to distribute their works as podcasts. We make it simple for listeners to find, filter, manage, listen and share digital audio content in the most simple and convenient manner possible. VoiceIndigo makes podcasts mobile.

We've developed an innovative new way to monetize audio content that benefits consumers, podcasters, mobile network operators, and advertisers.

VoiceIndigo is a distribution channel that provides you with:

  1. An order of magnitude more reach by enabling the delivery of your podcast to mobile phone users.
  2. Constant innovation so that you can capture maximum value from your program
  3. Knowledge of your audience with advanced ratings and demographics reporting.
  4. A direct link to your community.
  5. Oh yes, and let's not forget: Money.

More information can be found here.

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How much does VoiceIndigo Cost?

VoiceIndigo is free for consumers, and free for podcasters.

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How does it work?

In short, you give us the rights to monetize your content during the registration process. We provide you with user statistics and money in return. The earlier you register with us, the more we give you.

See the summary of our content license agreement.

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How do I create a podcast?

VoiceIndigo is focused on delivering your content to the farthest corners of the blogosphere, the web, and mobile network edge while creating an excellent experience for listeners. As a result we are becoming a premiere distribution vehicle for podcasters.

Our strategic services team and consulting partners are happy to help our corporate content providers create podcasts on a consulting basis, however at VoiceIndigo we don't develop or make available technical infrastructure for podcast creation to a wider 'public audience'. We believe that there are already plenty of good tools available for doing so.

The following are a few external resources that you might check out regarding the creation of podcasts:

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Miscellaneous FAQs

What is podcasting?

Podcasting is a rapidly growing method of distributing audio files via the internet, enabling listeners to subscribe to programming of their choice, and then pull the files down to their local device for listening at their convenience. In essence, it's user demand driven, time-shifted, and place-shifted content.

Podcasting is the future of content distribution.

VoiceIndigo believes that mobile handsets are the most natural device for the consumption of digital audio. We've built a complete end to end system that enable delivery of podcasts to mobile phones providing a clean, simple, and quality user experience.

More information regarding podcasting can be found at Wikipedia.

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Who is Podcasting?

Podcasters include both high affinity targeted publishers such as GrapeRadio, ReelReviews, and IT Conversations, and brand name publishers such as the BBC, National Public Radio, ESPN, The Wall Street Journal, and ABC. The number of content producers distributing their work as podcasts is growing exponentially. There are currently about 10,000 podcasters in the English speaking world. The Diffusion Group estimates that there will be over 1 million podcasters within the next 5 years. Entertainment, Inspiration, and Information.

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Who's Listening?

Millions of consumers now have unprecedented control over what they listen to, and when and where they listen to it. Podcasting is now one year old, and already over 7 million Americans listen to podcasts. The number of listeners is growing exponentially. The number is expected to surpass network television in 4 years. Two days after Apple announced support for podcasting in iTunes, they had over 1 million podcast subscriptions. VoiceIndigo offers consumers what they want: Simplicity, Convenience, and Control.

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Does VoiceIndigo have a web services API?

Yep, we're a cool web 2.0 company. Currently we make our API available to select partners.

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What is the meaning of life?

Forty-two.

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I have more questions about VoiceIndigo, what should I do?

Please send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at inquiries.

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Who are you guys anyway?

People who are passionate about creating a good consumer experience around open media and what it all means for our society.

See our core values and team bios for more information.

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Updated: December 16, 2005