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YouTube Challenger Lunched by Microsoft

According to Nielsen/NetRatings, the famous YouTube, which gives users the option to upload videos and share them with other people, grew 297 percent from January to June to a monthly unique audience of 19.6 million. To challenge the YouTube, Microsoft has launched a new video-sharing service, Soapbox. Joe Wilcox, analyst for JupiterResearch says: "Microsoft is jumping on the bandwagon without knowing where it`s going, but confident that it needs to be onboard".

Microsoft intends to apply a copyright protection policy in Soapbox similar to YouTube`s, by taking down unlicensed content when copyright holders will request that. Both services will offer the same basic uploading and sharing functions, however Soapbox would have the advantage of integration with Microsoft`s portfolio of online services, including its blogging and instant messaging services called Spaces and Messenger, respectively.

Soapbox also has its own player for uploading, searching and sharing video, which a user can do while watching a video. Users can rate videos and tag them, so they can be easily found later. Links to videos can be sent by email, and the Soapbox player can be embedded in a Web site or blog.