Apparatus and method for sending video content to a mobile device

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

embedding a widget in a website, the widget configured to generate a form;

providing the form when a user visits the website so as to execute the widget, the form comprising a first field to enter a recipient phone number, a send selector, and one or more non-visible fields, the non-visible fields containing a content service provider identifier, and a video URL;

generating a data packet with the widget when the user selects the send selector, the data packet comprising the recipient phone number, the video URL, and the content service provider identifier;

sending an encoded version of the data packet to the content service provider;

immediately downloading a video related to the video URL when the video is not stored in a database of the content service provider;

transcoding the video into a format adequate for viewing on mobile devices; and

sending a plurality of text messages to the recipient phone number, the plurality of text messages comprising a first time user message, a new channel creation message, and the video link message.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the form further comprises a sender phone number, a send button, a message field, a content discretion rating field, content license information, and a subscribe to sender selector.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: sending a confirmation text message to a sender phone number upon receipt of the encoded version of the data packet.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the video link message contains the video URL of a video clip sent by the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein upon receipt of the encoded version of the data packet, the method further comprises: determining a mobile phone carrier servicing the recipient phone number.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein upon receipt of the encoded version of the data packet, the method further comprises: determining a manufacturer and a model number of a mobile phone associated with the recipient phone number.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein upon receipt of the encoded version of the data packet, the method further comprises: determining a version of operating system software of a mobile phone associated with the recipient phone number.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request to retrieve the video URL, wherein the request is received at the content service provider from a recipient phone associated with the recipient phone number; and

providing a video clip associated with the video URL from a cached location when the cached location stores the video clip.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions, when executed by a computer, configured to cause the computer to:

embed a widget in a website, the widget configured to generate a form;

provide the form when a user visits the website so as to execute the widget, the form comprising a first field to enter a recipient phone number, a send selector, and one or more non-visible fields, the non-visible fields containing a content service provider identifier, and a video URL;

generate a data packet with the widget when the user selects the send selector, the data packet comprising the recipient phone number, the video URL, and the content service provider identifier;

send an encoded version of the data packet to the content service provider;

immediately download, transcode, and store a video related to the video URL when the video is not stored in a database of the content service provider;

transcode the video into a format adequate for viewing on mobile devices; and

send a plurality of text messages to the recipient phone number, the plurality of text messages comprising a first time user message, a new channel creation message, and the video link message.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the form further comprises a sender phone number, a send button, a message field, a content discretion rating field, content license information, and a subscribe to sender selector.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , having stored thereon additional instructions, the additional instructions, when executed by the computer, configured to cause the computer to send a confirmation text message to a sender phone number upon receipt of the encoded version of the data packet.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the video link message contains the video URL of a video clip sent by the user.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , having stored thereon additional instructions, the additional instructions, when executed by the computer, configured to cause the computer to determine a mobile phone carrier servicing the recipient phone number upon receipt of the encoded version of the data packet.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , having stored thereon additional instructions, the additional instructions, when executed by the computer, configured to cause the computer to determine a manufacturer and a model number of a mobile phone associated with the recipient phone number upon receipt of the encoded version of the data packet.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , having stored thereon additional instructions, the additional instructions, when executed by the computer, configured to cause the computer to determine a version of operating system software of a mobile phone associated with the recipient phone number upon receipt of the encoded version of the data packet.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , having stored thereon additional instructions, the additional instructions, when executed by the computer, configured to cause the computer to:

receiving a request to retrieve the video URL, the request received at the content service provider from a recipient phone associated with the recipient phone number; and

providing a video clip associated with the video URL from a cached location if the cached location stores the video clip.