Joost quits desktop client

Joost will soon announce it will stop making its desktop client and focus instead on a browser-based player for delivering web videos, according to a Friday report from GigaOM. The move will not quite step down to the level of YouTube or Hulu, which are strictly web pages, as it will require a browser plug-in that promises to deliver better video quality through peer-to-peer technology than the competition's traditional approach. The current interface (pictured) was designed to provide a more TV-like experience to users, who so far haven't embraced the idea.

The believed reasons for users shying away from the Joost interface are many, including the bandwidth limitations they impose, software complications and the relative lack of content. Earlier this year, Warner announced it would provide web-based video sites including Joost, Veoh and others with dedicated channels, promising a September launch; while this may still happen, the nature of Joost's current interface is said to potentially complicate the issue. Joost competitors Veoh and Jaman have recently likewise changed to a browser-and-client strategy, moving away from the client.

A web-only Joost would also help the company's finances by allowing for more ads and other promotional content to appear during playback versus the TV-like commercials that limit the company's ability to generate income.

By Electronista Staff

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