Mobile podcast downloads are now functioning within the iPhone 2.2 beta firmware, reports claim. Although references to the feature were said to be present as far back as late last month, this was unconfirmed, and buttons for the new option were said to be inactive. Users of the firmware should now be able to browse podcasts much in the same as other material on the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, searching by category, with episode lists replacing track lists.

Crucially, iPhone and iPod touch owners should be able to access both audio and video podcasts, though it is unclear if videos are streams or permanent downloads. It is also rumored that while downloads are possible via 3G, each file must be 10MB or less in size, much in the same manner as programs bought from the App Store.