Podcast capabilities help customers more easily manage files, content via their hosting service and take advantage of increasing consumer demand for media content.CENTENNIAL, Colo. - Verio Inc., a US-based subsidiary of NTT Communications Group and a leading provider of hosting and Internet services for small to midsized companies and partners, today unveiled its hosted Podcast tool to help small business hosting customers leverage the power of this medium. Podcast episodes, which include audio or video files distributed over the Internet for downloading to PCs or mobile devices, allow businesses to market original content to audiences who otherwise may not be able or inclined to visit their Web sites regularly.

Verio's new Podcast function enables customers to easily set up and manage RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Feeds, a kind of XML format file that is needed to deliver audio and video Podcasting from their site. Customers must still create and record the Podcast audio or video content separately, with the Verio tool enabling businesses to more easily post these content files.

With Verio's Podcast file manager tool, business users now have a standard way to enable Podcasts for their customers without developing a customized solution. Customers with limited technical knowledge of RSS Feeds or RSS Tags can easily configure, upload, access and manage their Podcasts through an intuitive Web interface found on their Verio customer control panel. The service also allows for multiple RSS Feeds for the creation and distribution of news feeds. Verio's new tool enables users to attach audio and video files to an RSS Feed - a key step required to make the audio files available via Podcast. This ensures that subscribers receive notification of the new file availability for downloading to their iPod device or RSS Reader software on a PC.

Customers can also setup the necessary configuration required to register to the iTunes Directory using the file management tool, thus increasing distribution and exposure opportunities for the Podcasts.

The function is especially helpful for customers who need to update their Podcast environment by adding new content regularly, such as the introduction of new products, free audio or video content distribution, daily news and event updates, or company activities. The tool also enables customers to create multiple Podcast channels. Each RSS Feed can contain a single Podcast channel with many audio and video Podcast content files.

For example, a legal firm can create a Podcast with recent case decisions and another Podcast with investor information on separate Podcast channels with separate RSS feeds. The Podcast content files will be put under each of the Podcast channels.

With the proliferation of mobile, Internet-enabled devices, Podcasting has steadily increased in popularity. According to recent figures released by Bridge Ratings, a firm which measures radio listening behavior and audiences, the number of Podcast subscribers is estimated to grow to approximately 60 million by the year 2010.

"Customers are looking for meaningful and consistent ways to engage with their customers, attract new audiences and provide timely information and content as part of their business. By helping businesses build feature-rich Web sites with elements such as Podcasting, these small businesses can build and increase customer loyalty," said Dennis Boyle, chief operating officer for Verio. "With Verio's hosted Podcast tool, customers are empowered to create Web content to reach a vast number of people on an ongoing basis via portable devices."

The opportunities for small businesses to take advantage of Verio's Podcast capabilities are far-reaching and could be adapted to any number of small businesses to help drive Internet traffic by offering interesting, original content to site visitors.

Pricing and Availability

Verio's Podcast service is available immediately at no cost with Verio's shared hosting services. Verio will extend its Podcast service to its virtual and managed dedicated hosting plans later this year. The service is available in both English and Japanese languages. More information can be found at www.verio.com/podcast-hosting/.

About Verio

Verio Inc. is a leading provider of hosting and managed services for small and midmarket companies and partners worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of NTT America, US subsidiary of NTT Communications, which provides complementary global network access reaching over 200 countries worldwide. The company offers businesses a range of Internet services, including Web hosting, managed services and value-added professional service offerings. Verio supports its operations with highly reliable and scalable global infrastructure and systems including the NTT Communications Global IP Network, and provides business solutions to customers and partners in more than 146 countries. More information can be found at www.verio.com and www.ntt.com/index-e.html.

Verio and the Verio logo are trademarks and/or service marks of Verio Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other names are trademarks or registered marks of their respective owners. (C)2006 Verio Inc. All rights reserved.