"It has become a regular feature on my commute. I like their style because it reminds me of the good old hostel days when we used to sit outside our rooms and chat for hours," is what a regular listener of 'theindicast.com' has to say about it.

Indicast is India's first multi-person podcast, providing opinions on current affairs/events from across the world, mixed with a tinge of street smart humor.

Now, some of you must be wondering what is a podcast?

Those using an iPod must be familiar with this term, but for those who don't know, "A podcast is a digital media file distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on portable media players and PCs."

Basically, it is like creating your own content, and having a platform to publish it.

The 'Pod' word comes from Apple Computer's iPod, while 'casting' comes from broadcasting.

The host or author of the podcast is referred to as a podcaster. To be a podcaster, all you need is a microphone. Go ahead, and record something, anything - from music to philosophy, or just snort noises into a PC, and post the audio file on the Internet.

People can listen to the podcasts online, or else subscribe to a "feed" from the podcaster, so that all new audio files from that source are automatically pulled down as soon as they are published. When the user connects his iPod or any other music player for charging, the new feeds on the PC are transferred to the device.

Indicast is run by two youngsters: Aditya Mhatre, who handles the technology part, and Abhishek Kumar, who looks into marketing.

"There is lack of awareness in the country in terms of podcasting. The problem is not whether people like it or not, but the problem is - do people know about it? Internationally, podcasting picked up after the introduction of iTunes by Apple. Out there, it is a different medium altogether, but in India, it's going through a wild patch," according to Mhatre and Kumar.

In the US, the podcasting market is expected to go up to $400 million by 2010. The duo says the majority of Indicast visitors are Indian, but based out of India. However, 75 percent of their listeners do come through iTunes. When a MP3 file is uploaded on Indicast, itunes automatically downloads it on the subscriber's PC.

Right now, Indicast releases only one episode a week, but there are plans to start shows on Business and Technology, wherein bloggers will be invited to contribute, thereby increasing the episodes' count to about four a week.

Indicast also plans to venture into live shows and what Mhatre calls, 'the next big thing' aka "Vidcasting". Vidcasting is nothing but video casting that will feature shows based on Technology and gadgets, Travel and Tourism.

Apart from podcasts for infotainment, Mhatre and Kumar are keen to apply podcasts to the field of Education. The duo said they are in talks with the Wellingkar Institute to promote use of podcasts and vidcasts during lectures.

And, both Mhatre and Kumar are positive that as of now, technology is not a barrier, but content is... Just about anyone could be a podcaster, given access to a recorder, editing software, and Web hosting. The future of podcasting in the country is bright, feel the twosome...