Video service Babelgum has redesigned again, finally going Flash-only, and has unveiled its mobile app for the US market. The company – which is located between Dublin, Milan, London and Nice – in November moved from relying on a downloadable app to going in-browser, but still required a small downloadable plugin; now, Babelgum has switched completely to Flash, with a neat new player that emphasises the video experience.
In a crowded online market, Babelgum, which lost several senior execs in 2007 and 2008, has been searching for what it should become. It has targeted the indie film and documentary segment in particular and seems intent on gaining traction in mobile video. It says it will unveil apps for the G1 phone this month and follow-up HTC Dream next month, with BlackBerry Storm, Samsung Omnia, Nokia N97 (NYSE: NOK) and 5800 to come. It began its mobile ambitions in December when it partnered with Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) in the UK and Italy to make data transfer free from its service to its new iPhone and Symbian S60 apps. Chief executive Valerio Zingarelli, in the release, said Babelgum had found success localizing mobile programming in the UK and Italy: “We’re now ready to take the product to the US market.” The app will work across both 3G and WiFi.
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