One of the more inconspicuous platforms out there is the podcast. While online video and streaming gets all the attention right now, podcasts have quietly made their mark.

So, with that in mind, we looked at a few podcasting services that stand out from the pack.

iTunes

Apple's service is unarguably the most comprehensive one around, with hundreds of thousands of podcasts to download or stream. 

The best thing about the service (besides syncing new podcasts seamlessly to your iOS device) is that it works just fine with a standard South African iTunes account.

Zune

Microsoft's version of iTunes isn't bad at all, offering a very stylish design and hogging little resources. But the podcast system is pretty nifty too.

Zune offers video podcasts as well as your usual audio versions, but you'll need to make a US account (at least the last time I checked). The application is also used for syncing with Windows Phone 7.

Tunein Radio

Whether you're looking for local radio shows or your favourite podcast, TuneIn covers them all, with a polished interface to boot.

While it's seemingly impossible to download podcasts, the addition of mobile applications (Android, iOS, WP7, Bada and Blackberry) is welcome.

gPodder

If the idea of an open-source podcast manager appeals to you, then gPodder is one of your best bets.

gPodder's installation process might be confusing for newbies, as you need to download additional files too. While it doesn't have a comprehensive podcast guide, what's there is good.

Google Listen

This application, exclusive to Android devices, is one of the more comprehensive mobile podcast solutions around.

While it's not as comprehensive as Apple's offering, Listen is a decent alternative anyway. The application lets you download, subscribe to and search for podcasts, giving you all the tools you need to manage your listening experience.

Are there any podcast services you make use of? Let us know below!