YouTube launches new iOS app ahead of iPhone 5 release

YouTube today announced that the launch of its very own iPhone app is now available as a free download in the App Store. You can access it here.

Currently iPhone has a YouTube app, the native one that was designed by Apple.

YouTube is being bumped from the menu of pre-installed apps on the next version of Apple’s mobile operating system, or iOS, which could be released as early as Wednesday when the latest iPhone is expected to be unveiled.

In August tech experts has noticed that the final beta versions of iOS6 did not have the YouTube app. Apple had responded in a statement saying, Our licensing to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended. Customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be in the App Store.

YouTube had responded to the news stating: “We are working with Apple to ensure we have the best possible YouTube experience for iOS users.”

Today, Google finally launched the new app, just in time for the release of the iPhone 5 which will come loaded with iOS6.

The new YouTube app will create more moneymaking opportunities for Google and video producers because it allows advertising to be shown with the clips. That’s something Apple hasn’t allowed on the pre-installed YouTube app. The ban on ads prevented many music videos and other widely watched clips from being shown in the iOS app because some copyright owners don’t allow their content to be shown if there is no way for them to be paid.

Removing the advertising limitations will mean users of the new iOS app can watch YouTube videos that already have been available on smartphones and tablet computers running on Google’s Android software said, Francisco Varela, YouTube’s global director of platform partnerships.

“We are offering a better user experience to iPhone users,” Varela said of the new YouTube app. “We will now have content parity on all our mobile platforms.”

Apple had no comment on Google’s claims.

The new YouTube app is tailored for the iPhone, although it will work on the iPad, too. A retooled app specifically tailored for the iPad is supposed to be released in the next few months. Currently it is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad and requires iOS 4.3 or later.

YouTube could still end up losing some of its audience on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch because device owners will have to go to Apple’s App Store to download the free program. YouTube says mobile viewers collectively watch more than 1 billion clips per day.