YouTube App Comes To Symbian, Windows Mobile

Google wants to make it easier for wireless subscribers to watch YouTube on the go, and it has released a new application for most Symbian and Windows Mobile smartphones.

While many Symbian devices already have a Flash-capable browser that can watch videos on YouTube's mobile site, Google's app will likely provide a richer experience for wireless users. Google said the application will automatically select the highest-quality video depending on the user's device and network.

"Once installed, no configuration is required outside of the application," Google wrote on its mobile blog. "We've worked really hard to make video playback 'just work.' "

The app enables users to watch videos, view a list of the top-rated clips, and search for videos. Once a consumer chooses a video, it plays in landscape mode with the standard YouTube controls. The application can be downloaded from m.youtube.com, and it's available for most Windows Mobile handsets like the Touch Diamond. It's only available for Symbian S60 3rd edition devices, and a full list of compatible handsets can be found here.

For Google, this is just the latest move to extend its presence into the mobile space because it eventually sees mobile advertising generating more revenue than advertising on the normal Web. The search giant has a plethora of apps available for smartphone platforms like Apple's iPhone and Research In Motion's BlackBerry line. It also released its own mobile operating system to capitalize on growing mobile Web usage, and Android is expected to be on multiple handsets this year.

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