METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VIDEO MESSAGING

1 . A method of managing video content, the method comprising:

transmitting widget code to a user terminal, wherein the widget code is embeddable by the user on a plurality of web pages associated with the user, and the widget code includes a unique identifier;

receiving at a server system a first request via a widget corresponding to the widget code;

at least partly in response to the first request, transmitting over a network a video playlist previously defined by the user at a first website;

receiving from the widget at the server system a user request to transmit at least one selected video from the video playlist to a recipient;

receiving from the widget at the server system user text to be transmitted to the recipient in conjunction with the selected video; and

initiating the transmission of the video message and the user text to the recipient.

2 . The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising:

receiving from the widget at the server system an indication as to the positioning of the user text with respect to the video; and

causing the text to be positioned in accordance with the positioning indication.

3 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the user can access the playlist via the widget on a variety of websites.

4 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the playlist includes videos playable via the widget.

5 . The method as defined in claim 1 , transmitting to the widget costs associated with sending a video included in the playlist to a recipient.

6 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the widget includes a play control.

7 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the widget includes a play control, wherein prior to the user activating the play control, a frame from at least one video in the playlist is presented as a still image.

8 . The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising transmitting the video message to a webpage.

9 . The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising transmitting the video message to an email address.

10 . The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein data is passed between the widget and the server system as XML data and/or HTTP post data.

11 . The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising receiving from the widget at the server system a definition of a video playlist.

12 . The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising:

receiving a selection of videos from the user to thereby define at least one playlist of videos;

receiving an instruction from the user to download the widget; and

generating code for the widget at least partly based on the playlist.

13 . The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising:

transmitting to a user terminal a menu of videos organized according to genre and sub-genre;

receiving a selection of videos from the user of videos to thereby define at least one playlist of videos; and

generating code for the playlist at least partly based on the playlist.

14 . The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising:

receiving at the server system an indication that the message has been delivered to the recipient; and

transmitting from the server system to the widget a notification that the recipient received the message.

15 . The method as defined in claim 1 , the method further comprising at least partly causing a carrier associated with the user mobile phone to bill the user for the at least one selected video.

16 . Widget code stored in computer readable memory, the widget code embeddable by a user on a webpage, that when executed is configured to:

display a user defined playlist of videos to the user;

receive a user selection of a video from the playlist;

receive a recipient designation from the user;

transmit an identifier associated with the user, an indication as to the selection, and the recipient designation over a network to a remote system so that the remote system can initiate transmission of a message including access to the video to the recipient;

receive a confirmation from the remote system that access to the video has been delivered to the recipient; and

display a confirmation indication to the user.

17 . The code as defined in claim 16 , wherein the code is further configured to:

display a text entry field via which the user can enter text to be sent with access to the video to the recipient;

display a text positioning control via which the user specify positioning of the text with respect to the video; and

transmit text entered into the field and text positioning information to the remote system in association with the video selection indication.

18 . The code as defined in claim 16 , wherein the code is further configured to:

display a text entry field via which the user can enter text to be sent in association with the video to the recipient; and

transmit text entered into the field to the remote system in association with the video selection indication.

19 . The code as defined in claim 16 , wherein the code is further configured to:

receive from the remote system a cost associated with sending the video to the recipient; and

display the cost to the user.

20 . A method of managing video content, the method comprising:

transmitting widget code from a server to a user terminal, wherein the widget code, when executed is configured to display a playlist;

transmitting to the widget a cost associated with sending a video message;

receiving from the widget at the message management system a user request to transmit at least one selected video from the video playlist to a recipient;

receiving from the widget at the message management system user text to be transmitted to the recipient in conjunction with the selected video; and

initiating the transmission of the video message and the user text to the recipient.

21 . The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein the widget code is embeddable by the user on a plurality of web pages associated with the user,

22 . The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein the widget code includes a unique identifier associated with the user.

23 . The method as defined in claim 20 , the method further comprising:

receiving from the widget at the message management system an indication as to the positioning of the user text with respect to the video; and

causing the text to be positioned in accordance with the positioning indication.

24 . The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein the user can access the playlist via the widget on a variety of websites.

25 . The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein the playlist includes playable videos.

26 . The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein the widget includes a play control.

27 . The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein the widget includes a play control, wherein prior to the user activating the play control, a frame from at least one video in the playlist is presented as a still image.

28 . The method as defined in claim 20 , the method further comprising transmitting the video message to a webpage.

29 . The method as defined in claim 20 , the method further comprising transmitting the video message to an email address.

30 . The method as defined in claim 20 , wherein data is passed between the widget and the message management system as XML data and/or HTTP post data.

31 . The method as defined in claim 20 , the method further comprising receiving from the widget at the message management system a definition of a video playlist.

32 . The method as defined in claim 20 , the method further comprising:

receiving at a website a selection of videos from the user to thereby define at least one playlist of videos;

receiving an instruction from the user to download the widget; and

generating code for the playlist at least partly based on the playlist.

33 . The method as defined in claim 20 , the method further comprising:

transmitting to a user terminal a menu of videos organized according to genre and sub-genre;

receiving a selection of videos from the user of videos to thereby define at least one playlist of videos; and

generating code for the playlist at least partly based on the playlist.

34 . The method as defined in claim 20 , the method further comprising:

receiving at the message management system an indication that the message has been delivered to the recipient; and

transmitting from the message management system to the widget a notification that the recipient received the message.

35 . The method as defined in claim 20 , the method further comprising at least partly causing a carrier associated with the user mobile phone to bill the user for the at least one selected video.

36 . A method of managing video content, the method comprising:

receiving over a network at a first server a user request for a widget;

transmitting widget code over the network, wherein the widget code is configured to be embedded on a user specified web page, and where the widget code, when executed, is configured to display a content playlist selected and/or defined by the user;

including a unique identifier in the widget, the unique identifier associated with the host of the user specified web page;

receiving, over the network from the widget at the messaging system the unique identifier in association with activity data, including at least one of the following:

an indication as to when and/or how many times the widget has been launched and/or loaded via the web page;

an indication as to which playlist content has been viewed and/or how many times at least a first playlist content has been viewed;

an indication as to which playlist content has been sent and/or how many times at least a first playlist content has been send;

storing at least a portion of the activity data in computer readable memory; and

generating report based on at least a portion of the activity data.

37 . The method as defined in claim 36 , wherein the playlist includes video content.

38 . The method as defined in claim 36 , wherein the widget code includes a unique identifier associated with the user.

39 . The method as defined in claim 36 , wherein the widget includes a play control to play the content.

40 . The method as defined in claim 36 , wherein the widget includes a play control, wherein prior to the user activating the play control, a frame from at least one video in the playlist is presented as a still image.

41 . The method as defined in claim 36 , the method further comprising transmitting a video message for display on at least one webpage in accordance with a user instruction.

42 . The method as defined in claim 36 , wherein data is passed between the widget and the messaging system as XML data and/or HTTP post data.

43 . The method as defined in claim 36 , the method further comprising:

receiving at a website a selection of videos from the user to thereby define at least one playlist of videos and a user selection of a pre-existing playlist;

receiving an instruction from the user to download the widget; and

generating code for the widget at least partly based on the user defined and/or selected playlist.