Less than a week after YouTube incorporated mobile video uploads into their service, AOL responds with a remarkably similar service. Called AOL Uncut and existing as a subset of AOL Videos, the service allows people to upload short videos and incorporates tagging as well as other social networking features. The service is free but users must possess an AOL login, be above 18 years of age and the service will be monitored by LiveWorld for piracy and offensive content.

Information Week Reports on this new YouTube competitor:

"AOL will offer mobile device uploads to the site from camcorders and digital cameras with help from VideoEgg's video publishing technology.

UnCut will launch as part of AOL's larger video offering that includes In2TV, a joint venture with Warner Bros. introduced in March that allows users to stream full episodes of classic television shows.

AOL also will add tagging; integration for social networking AIM pages based on the AIM buddy list; and AOL Journals, the company's blogging tool. AOL will offer a video module users can add to the AIM page. Videos are searchable, rated, commented and shareable.

Just another example of AOL following someone elses lead says ArsTechnica:

"UnCut Video looks to be another example of AOL jumping on a bandwagon months after it has already left the station. The company appears to have lost its knack of anticipating and creating new trends, instead choosing to mimic the successful ventures of its competitors and other, smaller companies. Most recently, AOL decided that the whole social networking thing might actually have legs, and decided to launch its own MySpace competitor, AIM Pages. Unfortunately for AOL, neither UnCut Video or AIM Pages bring much that's new to the table, meaning that most users will likely end up sticking with the services AOL is mimicking"

Our commentary:

It's too early to tell, presently the service has slim pickings as would be expected of anything in a pre release state. AOL does command a huge community but perceptions shift more towards IM and mailing than actual social networking. Still, it does validate social networking as a whole to see the big players taking it seriously and more choices can never be bad for the consumer. As to whether AOL can use this to overcome other more important issues of falling revenues, a general disconnect with an increasingly tech savy population, and the difficulties associated with turning from a largely access to a content provider remains to be seen. 

It's also interesting to note that if you click the "upload video" button the main submit page invites you to "become a photojournalist" plain and simple. Apparently AOL has figured out the magic formula on this one. We'll see if it pays off better for them than the last decade! For now, I'm sticking with YouTube.

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