The American virtual carrier Helio today announced that it had added YouTube Mobile, its own adaptation of the web video service. Like Apple's iPhone client, the Helio version includes a custom program for searching and playing videos and plays re-encoded versions of the clips in full-screen rather than the normal Flash versions. The use of an EVDO-based 3G wireless network gives the phone an advantage, the company says. Subscribers with a YouTube Mobile profile can record and upload clips through a Helio Album that are automatically posted to the Google-run website.

As with Apple's offering, a relatively small collection of popular YouTube videos are available on launch, which takes effect immediately; the entire catalog should be ready for Helio by the fall, indicating that the company is using the same H.264 format for its clips. Using the service requires Helio service with a data plan as well as the Drift, Heat, or Ocean (pictured) and should apply to any future phones sold for the network.