The Biz of Coding

Get YouTube Videos on your Mobile Phones

by Ujwal Tickoo on January 27th, 2008

YouTube has released a mobile application that will allow users to watch YouTube videos on mobile phones. Before you get too excited right now the YouTube app is available only on Nokia's N73, N95, E65, 6110, 6120 and SonyEricsson k800 and w880.

To download the YouTube app on your mobile phone point your mobile browser to: m.youtube.com/app and then follow the instructions.

What will it Cost you to download YouTube videos? Per an FAQ:

YouTube for mobile is free to download and use…Your mobile provider's regular data charges will still apply so please make sure you have a flat-rate, unlimited data plan. Also, check to see if you have a monthly data limit for your plan since video streams at between 60-80 kbps, or almost half a megabyte per minute.

PCWorld notes:

YouTube for Mobile, previously only available through deals with Verizon, Helio and Apple, can now be used on phones that can run video streaming and are supported by any 3G operator…In addition to…video catalogue, new YouTube for Mobile features will let users personalize their use of the videos.

For example, mobile users can access their accounts and YouTube Favorites, Videos and Channels. Another new feature allows mobile users to directly upload video from mobile devices. The update also lets users rate and comment on videos directly from mobile phones…

Whats in it for Google? Google ofcourse is expecting that mobile video will lead its charge in making big money off mobile advertising. Though Forrestor estimates that mobile ad revenue would touch $1 billion only in 2012, Eric Schmidt feels that this estimate is too low.

He believes that location based advertising will be a "huge revolution." At the World Economic Forum in Davos he said:

"It's the recreation of the Internet, it's the recreation of the PC (personal computer) story and it is before us — and it is very likely it will happen in the next year"

Whats the competition like? Yahoo! has been pushing its Yahoo! GO integrated application with a plan to open up a mobile widget platform. It is offerring over 10 of its services on Yahoo! GO. Google is currently offerring a smaller set – it Search, GMail, News, Calendar, Picasa on Mobile. Google Maps is also available. Google is trailing and this is an excellent move — given the wild popularity of YouTube. 

POSTED IN: YouTube