Streaming media software and services vendor Orb Networks followed up its recently announced partnership with Boingo Wireless—at the Consumer Electronics Show two weeks ago—by means of an agreement with spoken word content pioneer Audible.

Whereas Boingo and Orb will work together to wirelessly deliver live television, music, videos, photos, and other digital content via Wi-Fi, the Orb/Auidible deal lets Audible customers access their home PCs from virtually any device that can connect to the Internet—cell phone, smartphone, PDA, notebook, etc.—to listen to their audio content

The purpose of the agreement is to make the Audible service more spontaneous and convenient, as it would no longer require customers to transfer their downloaded audio to a mobile device before they leave home.

It works like this: Audio media is streamed—via a fixed or wireless newtork—from an Audible user's home PC to the device in question through Orb's Web-based Personal Media Portal, which serves as a conduit.

Audible senior VP of Strategic Alliances Foy Sperring enthused, "The agreement with Orb Networks gives our customers even more freedom to enjoy our service whenever and wherever they want. It has been Audible's philosophy to continually expand the reach of our audio solutions with the most innovative services available, and this is something powerful and brand new.

Part of the benefit of Orb's steaming media solution to Audible is its compatibility with the company’s content protection scheme.

Sperring continued, "Orb's ability to work within our DRM (Digital Rights Management) framework provides secure and simple access that increases the value of our listeners' purchases."

Although it remains to be seen how many Audible customers will use streaming rather than syncing as their chief means of transferring content—especially when often unreliable and expensive wireless networks are involved—the company’s deal with Orb has the potential of transforming the way many Audible patrons access and use their audio content.

Audible's library currently includes over 60,000 hours of audiobooks, audio magazines & newspapers, radio programs, and original shows.