YouTube Profiles Merge with Google Accounts
YouTube, the popular video sharing site that we turn to whenever we need to take a productivity break, is and has been owned by Google for quite some time now (since November 2006, to be more precise). As a member of the Google family, YouTube has now announced that YouTube accounts will merge with Google accounts.
Software Engineer with the YouTube Team, James Phillips, explains: “Starting today, signing up for YouTube means signing up for a Google Account that gives you access to YouTube, as well as other Google services such as iGoogle, Reader and Docs. If you already have a Google Account, you can choose to link your new YouTube Account to it, which means one less password to remember. You can still sign up for YouTube with any email address and you'll still need to confirm whatever email address you enter. You'll also still pick a unique YouTube username that identifies you to the YouTube community.”
According to the YouTube team, the main reason why this change has been implemented is to enhance the user’s overall experience by providing said user with access to more services. In the future the YouTube team expects to roll out several new features (no details on what they will be), and since they will be powered by Google technology, it makes sense to fuse these accounts together.
What if you already have a YouTube account and not a Google account? In this case you will be able to access YouTube in the same manner you’ve always done, by signing in as usual. The catch is that when new, Google technology powered features will be added to YouTube, having a Google account might prove to be a prerequisite.
James Phillips again: “For those of you who already have a YouTube Account, don't worry, you'll still be able to enjoy YouTube with just a YouTube Account. But some of the new features we roll out down the road may require a Google Account. In these cases, we'll be there to help you link your YouTube Account to a Google Account if you want to check the features out.”
Software Engineer with the YouTube Team, James Phillips, explains: “Starting today, signing up for YouTube means signing up for a Google Account that gives you access to YouTube, as well as other Google services such as iGoogle, Reader and Docs. If you already have a Google Account, you can choose to link your new YouTube Account to it, which means one less password to remember. You can still sign up for YouTube with any email address and you'll still need to confirm whatever email address you enter. You'll also still pick a unique YouTube username that identifies you to the YouTube community.”
According to the YouTube team, the main reason why this change has been implemented is to enhance the user’s overall experience by providing said user with access to more services. In the future the YouTube team expects to roll out several new features (no details on what they will be), and since they will be powered by Google technology, it makes sense to fuse these accounts together.
What if you already have a YouTube account and not a Google account? In this case you will be able to access YouTube in the same manner you’ve always done, by signing in as usual. The catch is that when new, Google technology powered features will be added to YouTube, having a Google account might prove to be a prerequisite.
James Phillips again: “For those of you who already have a YouTube Account, don't worry, you'll still be able to enjoy YouTube with just a YouTube Account. But some of the new features we roll out down the road may require a Google Account. In these cases, we'll be there to help you link your YouTube Account to a Google Account if you want to check the features out.”
