blusjune's Journal: Vodafone Announces YouTube Mobile Service

Vodafone Announces YouTube Mobile Service

U.K.-based GSM mobile operator Vodafone has announced YouTube will soon be available to Vodafone Group mobile phone users in the U.K. YouTube Mobile will be available later in the year through the Vodafone Live Web portal, which is currently available on 4.7 million handsets in the U.K.

Vodafone plans to launch the service in other European markets as well, the UK being merely the testing grounds. In the U.S., customers of Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless can all upload videos on YouTube from their phones.

"We're continually looking at what customers are doing on the Internet and the way that they are using their phones and the way they want to use their phones," a Vodafone spokeswoman said.

The launch will focus on the UK initially and involve YouTube providing a daily selection of videos users can select from. Also, users will be able to forward links of their favourite clips and upload their own content from their phones, like the services provided in the US by other carriers.

Earlier this week, Vodafone announced similar deals to make MySpace and eBay available on Vodafone mobile phones. Vodafone has also recently unveiled a virtual island in Second Life.

The new mobile Web 2.0 services are part of the company's strategy to add brands that it believes will be attractive to customers. Mobile carriers see an opportunity in syphoning a little more bucks from customers by using data services, which are usually more expensive than voice calls.

"People want to view and share favourite YouTube videos seamlessly wherever and whenever they want," said Steve Chen, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer for YouTube. "Partnering with Vodafone will accelerate those efforts to serve our loyal YouTube users as well as allow new mobile audiences to enjoy YouTube."

"Today's announcement with YouTube further expands the range of Internet services we're bringing to the mobile, introducing a seamless experience that allows customers to engage with user generated content on the move," said Frank H. Rövekamp, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Vodafone. "Through attracting the most popular internet brands onto Vodafone mobile devices we will continue to ensure our customers can access and share the best entertainment anytime and anywhere."