YouTube Targets the Corporate User

April 9, 2008 · Filed Under Google, Web 2.0

YouTube, the darling of the Web 2.0 boom, was purchased by Google in 2006. While the YouTube front page has kept a decidedly consumer focus, Google has been working on grander plans: a YouTube API. This creates another Google platform, and with the latest update, it provides the following functionality:

videos can be viewed from a desktop or web application
video files can be uploaded, even from a mobile device
comments and ratings can be applied to videos
control over the Flash video player

So the door is now open for integration into other software products or web services. Training and marketing applications come to mind, although I am sure that we will see some even more creative uses popping up in other enterprise apps. So far, Google’s marquee customer for YouTube is Electronic Arts. Their upcoming game, Spore, will let players upload video directly from the game into YouTube. Players can also enjoy the most popular content on the Spore channel.

The official Google YouTube API page is located here, with cases studies, documentation and sample code.

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