YouTube is making its entire catalog of more than 200 million video clips available to all mobile users with 3G phones operating on either a UMTS/HSDPA or EV-DO network. Not only can users view videos, but they can also upload content immediately from their cell phone and view it on a cell phone.
The company says that it has made a huge investment in infrastructure to make this service available. Besides the regular streaming service, YouTube Mobile will also enable users to personalize their service by letting them rate and comment on videos using their phone.
YouTube Mobile product manager Dwipal Desai said that the service will be available to all Sprint and AT&T customers with 3G phones and a data plan. He added that the service currently isn't available on Verizon Wireless EV-DO phones because they don't currently have streaming support. However, Verizon subscribers can get access to some select YouTube content through the operator's V CAST service. "This service is not tied to a particular OEM or a carrier," Desai said in an interview with FierceMobileContent. "With this launch, we have brought YouTube mainstream."
YouTube also has a free downloadable Java application it is offering through a handful of mobile phones with streaming capabilities. Those phones include the Sony Ericsson k800, w880, Nokia e65, n95, n73, 6610 navigator and 6120 classic. -Sue
For more on YouTube Mobile:
- read this release [1]
Related articles:
YouTube [2] generates iPhone content
Verizon Wireless, YouTube [3] make it official
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/youtube-announces-new-and-expanded-mobile-offerings
[2] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/youtube-generates-iphone-content/2007-06-21
[3] http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/verizon-wireless-youtube-make-it-official/2006-11-28