Yahoo's Podcasting Service (Beta)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc., the Internet giant, on
Monday unveiled plans to get into podcasting with a test release of a service that will let users download and review online radio programs.

The initial set of features include:
A Podcasts directory, community tools, listening directly from the source through Yahoo, compatibility with existing audio players, integration with the Yahoo, Music Engine.

http://podcasts.yahoo.com

- and yes AME Info is already indexed with 14 "episodes" - seems they started crawling on Sep 20 2005 or around that time.

Internet Advertising: First Half ’05 reaches $5.8 Billion – 26% increase over ’04

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released Internet Advertising Revenues covering Q2 and the first six months of 2005. Internet advertising revenues (U.S.) for the first six months of 2005 were approximately $5.8 billion, a new record and a 26% increase over the first half of 2004. Internet advertising revenue totaled $2.985 billion, just shy of $3 billion for the second quarter of 2005, representing a 26% increase over same period 2004. Q2 2005 revenues represent a 6.6% increase over Q1 2005.

"It is clear from this continued growth, that most agencies and marketers are now committed to Interactive as a critical medium in reaching their audiences, as well as engaging them in more immersive brand experiences,” said Greg Stuart, president and CEO of the IAB. “At the end of the day, it is about increased effectiveness from your marketing dollars and Interactive delivers this.”

We are optimistic that the same trend will follow in the Middle East :-)