Apple Audio Hyperlinks: The Next Step to Podcast Domination and Internet Marketing? What Is It?

A recent publication from the United States Patent and Trademark Office suggested that Apple might be on to something that will revolutionize the way marketing on the internet works. Yesterday, the tech titan submitted an application that involves the creation of audio hyperlinks - audible or inaudible links that can be played back on recordings, according to Apple Insider.

For example, a message could be sent by a company to customers directly. After playing on the user's iPhone, a code embedded on the audio stream would enable the mobile user to go to a different page, resource, or a different media. Currently, there is no way for podcasts or audio messages to direct its listeners through hyperlinks, and analysts believe that this could be the future of marketing via the internet.

 A hyperlink is usually a text which allows readers to transfer to another page, perform an action or check out another media resource. Hyperlinks are almost always textual, but Apple highlighted that there is great potential in audio hyperlinks.

According to a website called Patently Apple, the material which can be linked aurally is not limited to audio content. Any other type of resource or content can be accessed by the iPhone, iPad or any device running the audio stream.

One practical use of audio hyperlinks, according to Tech Crunch, is how podcasts can fully utilize these elements. A hyperlink could be triggered to repeat a section of the podcast, or to go to a different related section, much like how website tabs and navigators work. Also, a listener might opt to check out a related web commerce application or website after the speakers talk about a certain product or service. In effect, audio hyperlinks are a viable marketing gateway which could lead to many opportunities for marketing. ITunes Radio, for example, can derive profit from ecommerce brought about by the new technology, said Tech Crunch's Darrel Etherington.

Apple said that controlling this new type of links might have an effect on the physical structure of their products. A button solely dedicated to control audio hyperlinks might be developed, or possibly a headset button may appear on the next iteration of their products.