If there was any question about the significance of the iPhone 3GS’s impressive video functionality, here’s your answer: YouTube reports that in the six days since the iPhone 3GS was released last week, the number of mobile uploads has increased by a whopping 400%. For a single phone model to have such a major impact on the site is simply phenomenal.
Even without the iPhone, YouTube is seeing major growth across the entire mobile space — the site has seen uploads go up 1700% over the last six months. It’s not hard to guess why. Video-enabled smartphones are becoming increasingly popular, as are high speed data connections. YouTube also attributes part of the growth to a streamlined upload flow (note how easy it is to upload a video from your iPhone to the site), as well as its improved sharing capabilities (you can now syndicate your videos to services like Facebook and Twitter).
As the still-nascent iPhone 3GS continues to take off and more people figure out how to use the video sharing functionality, these figures are going to skyrocket. Other phones are increasingly getting in on the action too, like Android phones, which introduce direct-to-YouTube uploads with the 1.5 Cupcake update.
The implications for this are huge. Lowering the barrier to uploading a video will probably result in an increase in the silly user-generated content that litters YouTube, but it will also streamline the uploading of more significant videos. As our commenters point out, an increase in mobile uploads could very well spur the ‘iReporter’ movement, as citizens upload video taken at the scene of a newsworthy event as soon as it happens (we need look no further than the protesting and tragedies in Iran for examples).
It’ll be interesting to see how this revolutionizes the whole “I-Reporter” notion. The grassroots news movement will grow significantly if everyone has a video-capable phone in their pocket, capable of uploading straight to the Internet.
How can you say for sure that it is because of the same reason of the iPhone 3GS launch? Might be because of Iran Videos uploaded in large amounts. Giving all credit to Apple wont be 100% justified!
That is true. They didn’t say how many of the new video was from the 3GS. I imagine it’s significant, but not *that* significant.
It could be part of it, but quantity does not equal quality. Just look at http://anonboard.com for example.
I’m pretty sure Google keeps metrics on what devices are uploading to YouTube…
They do, when you upload video from an iPhone it tags it under the description with an iPhone logo that links back to the Apple site.
I agree, google knows everything
I doubt Iran is a hotbed of iPhone 3GS adoption, and Google does track model specific information. They also reported that mobile search was up drastically when the iPhone launched, and if I am correct later clarified the iPhone specific search numbers.
Clarification is needed, but I doubt that Iran is the cause of the uploads. An authoritarian regime with your phone number and YouTube account, does not make for a decent nights sleep.
Is it possible to watch youtube videos on your iPhone? If youtube uses flash and the iphone doesnt support flash how much does it matter that you can upload videos on the iPhone?
Yes. The iPhone has had a YouTube app since it launched. All the videos are converted to a format the iPhone can display.
@tech-freak stuff Has the 3GS been released in Iran? I don’t think so.
I don’t think the iPhone 3GS is yet released in Iran , but I am talking about different videos being uploaded from Iranian mobiles, not necessary iPhone 3GS.
Jason,
Android phones with its latest cupcake firmware has direct to YouTube uploads too.
Thanks Danny, will point that out in the post. Still, I think most of this can be attributed to the iPhone.
The ease of the 3GS video uploading to YouTube has me trying out a daily video blog (I’m a car magazine publisher and video producer) you can see how well the iPhone does in various locations here: http://www.roadflix.tv
One of the big issues is that the microphone is more sensitive on the opposite side of the phone than the camera is positioned, which makes it very good for narration, but not as good for interviews in noisy environments. (see the seaplane clip at the URL above.)
I have an editor here with a G1 and we’re going to upgrade his phone soon to give that a try as well.
FWIW, the reporter with a CBS affiliate in Miami shot and narrated his story on the the launch of the iPhone 3GS using nothing but his new iPhone 3GS: http://tr.im/pys6.
1. iPhone 3GS will further increase YouTube loses, as its more traffic for UGC, non ad supported content.
2. YouTube will have to strengthen their “Shows” section where they can charge premium ad rate and compete with Hulu.
3. This will make all the YouTube like, obsolete and many will have to close or consolidate.
4. We’ll see more braking news YouTube content on major TV and News networks like CNN.
5. YouTube should syndicate this content and charge CNN and others for using it, and share the revenues back with the creator of the video.
6. One thing is certain, there will be more work for lawyers.
But how many of those videos were actually *watchable*?
http://www.theo...hallenges_users
Are there any iphone video apps out? It’d be nice if vimeo came out with one that allowed us to upload higher quality clips, the youtube ones are compressed too much.
“For a single phone model to have such a major impact on the site is simply“… misleading.
You’re saying that the iPhone is solely responsible for a 400% increase in mobile uploads. You’re just guessing here. 395% of that could come from Iran.
thanks to iPhone 3Gs, youtube now is burning money more quickly…
should we buy Apple stock now? haha