What do you get if you cross an audio recorder with a Web site, tagging, a speech-to-text decoder, text search, social networking, and podcasting? You get Evoca.

Evoca allows you to record audio using your PC's microphone direct to the Evoca service, upload a previously recorded file, or record by calling into the Evoca service from a regular telephone line or by using the Skype VoIP service. Once the recording is in your account you can add tags, include it in an album, or attach it to a group and then share it privately or publicly.

Evoca enables you to send voice messages; dictate, transcribe and translate (a charged-for service with a 48 hour turnaround for recordings under four hours in length); as a podcasting or blogging support; and as a personal note-taker. Evoca also provides RSS feeds for tracking other members' recordings.

The search function is very impressive. If you go to the "Everyone's Recordings" page and then enter a word in the search field you'll get a list of hits with a playback "control" to the left of each title and with the playback point set to a few seconds before the target word.

Try searching for "kidneys". One of the results should be "Lose weight with 3 pills" by "Sphinx" with a total duration of 2 minutes 58 seconds with the playback paused at 1:54, three seconds in front of the target word at 1:57. Impressive.

So far, there's a pretty mixed bag of content and a surprising amount appears to come from South America. As you look through the content there's definitely a sense of people experimenting with where the value lies but the fact that they are experimenting speaks volumes for the service's potential.

Pricing starts at $0 for up to 60 minutes of recording and unlimited listening while the Professional account allows for an additional 200 minutes of recording for $4.99 per month.

This is a fascinating service that could have a significant role in providing support for other services such as family histories and collaboration support.

Mark Gibbs is a consultant, author, journalist, columnist and blogger.