Joost Set To Drop Dedicated Player Application

Joost is set to drop its dedicated player and instead become a browser-based service.

The new browser based service, which is currently in beta release, has been developed by the broadband video platform so that users will no longer be required to download a dedicated desktop application.

However, users will still need to download and install a plug-in to support the peer network distribution system.

Critics suggest that the issues of software installation, firewalls, support and maintenance may still apply to the new service, despite Joost’s attempts to improve its online video streaming.

Skype and the BBC iPlayer offer similar web based video products but have so far seen more success than Joost, with the iPlayer seeing more than 42 million programmes being accessed in the first three months of 2008 (see Over 42 Million Shows Accessed On iPlayer).

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