Classroom Companion: Business

3.3 · Service Integration over the Internet

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the telephone network. Interworking units between the mobile Internet and the 
PSTN will connect regions where the PSTN still exists.
Most audio broadcast and television services are now also available as real-time 
streaming services over the Internet. This is often referred to as webcasting. 
Webcasting does not require a separate network of radio transmitters, cables, or 
satellites to reach the audience. It only requires broadband access to the internet, 
and shows may be produced using cameras on smartphone or personal computers 
or standalone webcams. The technology is cheap, and anyone may afford to pro-
duce real-time video programs and send them over the internet—or become a web-
caster. However, there may be certain restrictions associated with webcasting; for 
example, if the program contains copyrighted material (e.g., music), the producer 
may have a license from the authorities to broadcast it as a commercial product. 
Examples of webcasting are real-time audiovisual dissemination of lectures, meet-
ings, concerts, weddings (nicknamed wedcast), and funeral ceremonies. Certain 
webcasts may be viewed for free, while some are paid for per view, and still others 
require prepaid subscription fees.
One type of broadcasting service is the podcast. The term was originally used 
for radio programs made available as audio files that could be downloaded to 
iPods. Podcast is now more generally used for episodic series of audio or video 
shows that can be downloaded to MP3 players, other media players, smartphones, 
or computers as webpages. Some podcasters offer subscription services where the 
episodes are downloaded automatically to the user equipment.
Even though most television and radio broadcasts are available on the Internet 
as webcasts and podcasts, there will still be a need for broadcasting services over 
cables, satellites, and radio transmitters for a long time to come.