Qik, the video-sharing site that clearly aspires to be the mobile YouTube, is jumping on the BlackBerry bandwagon. The company announced that it has created an alpha version of its video-sharing client for several BlackBerry models, including the Pearl 8120 and 8130, the Bold, and the Curve 8320 and 8330.

"We are excited to bring our lifestyle technology to the millions of BlackBerry users worldwide," said Ramu Sunkara, cofounder and CEO of Qik. "In our quest to bring mobile live video sharing to the masses, we now support the broadest range of platforms including Symbian, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and Java-enabled mass market phones."

The company enables mobile users with video capability to stream live video around the world, either on their mobile phones or on the Web. Qik-captured videos can also be embedded in Web pages or social-networking sites like Orkut and MySpace.

The application is playing an increasingly powerful role in the shifting media world. A large number of public events, from the American presidential race to consumer-electronic announcements, have been streamed using Qik.

RIM with a View

The release of an alpha client for the BlackBerry is a significant move for Qik, enabling the company to begin tapping into the popular handset’s 12-14 million subscribers.

Although there are definitely still some rough edges, the Qik streaming function is remarkably easy to use. The basic requirements are straightforward: a Qik user account, a supported phone, and the Qik streaming app. Once the app is installed and the user is signed in, pressing the Qik application pops up a "stream" button on the screen. Once the button is pressed, captured video is streamed directly to the Qik site.

The Qik software now works on smartphones manufactured by a variety of companies, including Apple, HTC, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. The largest number of compatible phone models is manufactured by Nokia, the company Qik focused on during its early days. There is no word yet when or if a version of the Qik app will be written for Android-based phones such as the G1.

RIM Moves Toward Consumer Apps

One question that remains to be answered is the extent to which Qik capability will be a headache for company IT departments. BlackBerry phones are particularly popular in the business community, and concerns over lost productivity may slow adoption of the new tool. On the other hand, there are numerous instances in which easy and quick video capture could serve business purposes.

In any case, the availability of a Qik application for the BlackBerry is part of a larger trend toward more consumer options for the business device. RIM has announced that in March 2009, it will open the BlackBerry Application Storefront, an iTunes-like portal to allow developers to produce and sell apps to its millions of users. Like Apple, RIM will take a percentage of the price paid by purchasers.

RIM is also sensitive to the productivity concerns that the BlackBerry Application Storefront will raise, as well. The company will coordinate with its enterprise customers to customize the applications that employees can download on company-issued devices.

Via Yahoo