Skype founders launch net television service : JoostT

The founders of Skype, the famous internet telephony company that kick started the voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) revolution launched their latest venture Tuesday, an internet-based TV service called Joost.

Although the name of the company is new, the project itself is not. It has been in the works under a codename “The Venice Project”. The company shed the codename for its new one, Joost (pronounced “juiced”).

Co-founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis have worked together for the last 10 years producing two blockbuster hits, Kazaa, the peer-to-peer file-sharing software and Skype, the VoIP telephony service.

Joost combines the best of TV and the best of the Internet by offering viewers a unique, TV-like experience enhanced with the choice, control and flexibility of Web 2.0.

Joost, although in private beta testing, will focus on providing free, ad-supported online video content from video content providers like record labels and TV networks.

So is Joost just another player in the lucrative online video entertainment arena? Or is it something different?

Joost provides a new way to watch video online by combining file-sharing P2P software and broadband television online.
What is interesting is that it provides television-like quality in full-screen mode and the ability to pause, rewind and fast-forward any program at will. The unparalleled online video content will be available to the consumer anytime and anywhere they want.

As was the case with Kazaa and Skype, the consumer will have to download and install software to access the services provided by Joost. This software will allow the consumer to browse the channels that interest them or watch video clips of their choice. The ease of use, insightful design and clean user interface is what made Kazaa and Skype such a huge success and from early reports of beta testers this one is no different.

“People are looking for increased choice and flexibility in their TV experience, while the entertainment industry needs to retain control over their content,” Fredrik de Wahl, chief executive officer of Joost said. “With Joost, we’ve married that consumer desire with the industry’s interests.”

Joost is the first global TV distribution platform, bringing together advertisers, content owners and viewers in an interactive, community-driven environment.

The company has already inked deals with Warner Music and Dutch television production company Endemol NV producers of the “Big Brother” show. They plan to make the content more global by having deals with other content providers gradually during the beta phase.

To test the service, the consumer has to fill out an application for a beta tester online at www.joost.com.

Only time will tell how well Joost will do, but judging by the past record of the co-founders the company will sure be a force to reckon with in the online video entertainment field.

Harsh Mantri

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