YouTube video goes mobile

YouTube is bringing its entire catalog of video clips to mobile.
The Google Inc. subsidiary expanded its mobile Web site, allowing users with 3G phones to access tens of millions of streaming videos on their handsets. The new service also enables YouTube members to access their favorite clips and video channels, rate and comment on videos and upload content directly from their handsets.
YouTube first waded into wireless late in 2006 with an exclusive deal with Verizon Wireless, and quietly launched a stripped-down version of its Web site in 2007. The company also offers a free downloadable Java application that is available on a handful of devices in the United States and United Kingdom.
“The Java application has some of the more interactive components that we have on our site,” said Dwipal Desai, YouTube mobile product manager. “You can share from the application, and we have integrated uploads to the app, so you don’t have to rely on MMS or e-mail.”
While YouTube’s traditional service is driven by advertising revenues, the company has yet to sell inventory on its mobile Web site. Instead, Desai said, the goal is to drive traffic before settling on a business model.
“I think it’s safe to say that we don’t have monetization on the wireless site right now,” said Desai. “We will be looking in the future for those.”
YouTube competes in the user-generated mobile video space against a host of startups including Mywaves, Eyespot, 4thMedia, Mojungle and Zannel.