14 DAY TRIAL // The story so far: Helio, a mobile carrier that provides mobile access to several social websites, allowed its consumers to access Google's online video sharing service YouTube for a monthly fee of $5.99. The access was based on a special application that enabled the users to access the clips straight from their handheld device. However, the market evolved and the competition appeared very fast. For example, the Mountain View company developed its own version of YouTube for mobiles that almost destroyed Helio's plans to make money with its platform.
Apple also announced its plans to provide access to the online video sharing service straight from a handheld device, adding YouTube support into their long-expected iPhone. Helio was somehow forced to take attitude and, instead of removing the fees, it blocked the access of the customers to the mobile version of YouTube.
Today, Inside Google reports that Helio finally decided to remove the fees and provide free access to the online video sharing service from any handheld device.
"Well, rather than just relenting and opening up YouTube viewing, while charging for the advanced features, Helio went all-out and announced it was making the YouTube application 100% free. Subscribers were informed that their subscriptions would be cancelled and refunded. Over their faster 3G connection, Helio's YouTube experience now trumps Apple's in most ways (except the screen, naturally)," Nathan Weinberg from Inside Google wrote today.
The online video sharing service YouTube is an attractive solution for most of the Internet companies because its popularity is continuously increasing and it is able to drive traffic to any page. Take the example of the Cupertino company Apple that decided to add YouTube support to its Apple TV and to iPhone, two of the most awaited solutions prepared by the Mac OS X creator.