Earlier this week I installed an application that turns my mobile phone into a highly portable, live broadcasting device. There are plenty of video sharing services that can accept uploads via mobile phone including youtube, blip.tv, kyte.tv and others. But qik, the service I'm currently alpha testing, does something very different - it allows you stream video live from a 3G phone to the web.
The potential for this is incredible. From now on, every journalist will have the ability to get usable video content on air almost instantly using nothing but a mobile phone that fits easily in their pocket. Activists will be able to stream live from protests. Concert goers can share their front row seats with friends at home. Privacy concerns aside, the ability to stream live video from a cameraphone, and for that video to be instantly available around the world via the internet, really is awesome.
Here's what the service looks like online:
And a short video I made showing how the mobile application looks on a Nokia N95 handset:
I'ts great to see the rising numbers of Average Joes empowered by technology and the web to make a stand on local issues. I seen grandparents protesting outside Guildhalls and posting to YouTube to shout about their cause as well as all the campaign websites. Will this be what they use next? I hope so!
Posted by: Nick, BBC Wales Web Team | 29 February 2008 at 11:30 AM