On Hulu moving to Cellphones, Driving mobile video usage

Hulu has done well as a browser-based video destination. In march 2009, it reached he third position in video internet website with 2.6% market share. (which is good but still really far behind Youtube, 40% market share). With Newscorp and NBC Universal as shareholders, Hulu is a promising start-up. Hulu aims to provide free and legal content sponsored by advertising to users. More recently, Disney just joined the investors enabling TV series like “Lost” or “Desperate Housewives” from ABC available on the network.

So, it’s not surprising to hear that Hulu is headed to cell phones. An anonymous mobile industry executive says the video service will soon appear on Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch, according to Business Insider.

Hulu’s mobile iteration is expected to resemble its browser cousin for streaming prime time content, and will reportedly work over both 3G and WiFi connections. Since Hulu has always positioned itself as a streaming service, it seems unlikely that the app would support download, unless ad hoc video security solutions are put in place.

Analysts have been predicting online video’s mobile shift for a while now, and players like TV.com, Joost, SlingPlayer,  i.TV have already made their mark (across multiple devices, no less), RokTV, mobi.tv…

Could not these applications be the future of TV in general, a great web platform, a box (wifi, or wired linked to your computer or your home gateway) enabling you to watch your streamed content on your TV via a simple and easy-to use interface. Then, ideally continue your true entertainment experience on your mobile (apps or web app) with usage like: watching previews or episode summaries “getting your Lost Untangled on your iPhone just when they are released would be awesome!”