Shortly after the Google video search feature was launched, company co-founder Larry Page issued a request for people to submit their personal videos, which Google would then catalog and make searchable. Apparently, the response to Page’s appeal was considerable because Google is launching a video playback service that will allow users to access this content, considering they know how to query Google’s database.
Google Prepares To Offer Video Playback
According to John Battelle, who broke the story on his blog, Google Video will be launching a video player that integrates itself into either the Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers, allowing users to view Google’s streaming video in response to their video search queries.
Evidently, the player will be open source and is based on the VLC media player. The player will also be made available to those who like to program using open source utilities through Google’s code project.
Once a search is conducted, any results that are designated as being free will be streamed to the user via the VLC player. There are indications that in order to access paid content, users will have to pay, via the Google Wallet, in order to view these videos.
Oddly enough, the VLC player feature marks the first time content in the Google Video index will be viewable, making Google Video more like an actual video search tool. Until the (upcoming) launch of the streaming capabilities, Google Video only returned text content based on the indexing of closed caption transcripts (which, like the Unofficial Google Blog says, is bizarre).
Battelle sees the soon-to-be-launched streaming feature as solidifying Google as an alternative video hosting service that will assist others getting their message out. This service should come in handy for those who can’t afford to host and stream their own video work. More details can be found about Google’s video upload service here.
John also points out how the enhanced Google Video is a direct shot at Microsoft and others who support streaming video like Real Networks. Because of the open source nature of the VLC player, Battelle feels it’s only a matter of time before someone makes a freestanding Google video player that ties into the Google Video search function.
Because Google Video allows paid content to be submitted and users to be charged for its playback, it certainly does appear as if this service has been tailored to fit with the upcoming Google Wallet, which has been surrounded by speculation since it was first mentioned. By integrating the two Google services, users will be able to exploit Google Video as a one-stop service that allows access to paid and unpaid content alike.
A question remains, however: will the introduction of the VLC-Google player increase the amount of content Google will offer potential users. Will Google and their video partners allow users to access anything other than closed caption transcripts? Can Google also integrate the Google Wallet to charge for premiere content coming from their partners?
If so, it would certainly appear as if Google has found another legitimate source of revenue and income, instead of relying primarily on their (incredibly lucrative) advertising services.
Expect the Google Video player to available sometime today (06/27/05).
Chris Richardson is a search engine writer and editor for Murdok. Visit Murdok for the latest search news.
