America Online is applying its clout to the world of podcasting. Its AOL.com portal will attract audiences to the increasingly popular medium with original programs, repurposed audio content and powerful search capabilities brought together under the rubric of Podcasting 101. The main page will highlight the 11 most popular podcasts along with a few others chosen by the service's editors. Among those being showcased are content from CNN, KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" and Harry Shearer's "Le Show," the BBC's "Today" and "From Our Own Correspondent," Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica," AOL's own "SportsBloggersLive" and Michael Geoghegan's "Reel Reviews." AOL Music and AOL Radio executive director of music industry relations Jack Isquith said Moviefone's "Unscripted" was a good example of existing programming that he expected to do well as a podcast. "No one's really the interviewer, no one's really the interviewee," he said. "Two of the stars involved in a movie just talk to each other. It's perfect for podcasting. That was created not with podcasting in mind but is a great extension."
The world of eCommerce payments has evolved. As we look toward the latter half of this decade, we're witnessing a transformation in how digital commerce operates, with a clear shift toward localized payment solutions within a global marketplace. The numbers tell a compelling story. According to Juniper Research's latest analysis, global eCommerce transactions are set to reach $11.4 trillion by 2029, marking a 63 percent increase from $7 trillion in 2024. This growth isn't just about volume – it's about fundamental changes in how people pay for goods and services online. Perhaps most striking is the projected dominance of Alternative Payment Methods (APMs), which are expected to account for 69 percent of global transactions by 2029, with 360 billion transactions processed through these channels. eCommerce Payments Market Development What makes this shift particularly interesting is how it reflects the democratization of digital commerce. Traditional card-based systems ar...