iPhone News Updated

New Brightcove release focuses on iPhone apps, SMB platform

New Brightcove release focuses on iPhone apps, SMB platform

Brightcove Inc. today announced the release of Brightcove 4, adding features for iPhone application developers and a pared-down, $99-a-month version of the company’s web video publishing platform, aimed at small and midsize businesses (SMB).

With Brightcove Express, as the SMB product is called, the Cambridge-based company has returned to its roots, sort of. Brightcove originally launched with a free video publishing platform, which it discontinued last year. Brightcove 4’s support for developers on Apple Inc.’s (Nasdaq: APPL) iPhone app store comes in the form an iPhone player and software development kit (SDK).

Like other web video firms, Brightcove has turned some of its focus toward business uses of video, such as marketing, sales and training — and away from its longest-standing customers, mostly ad-supported media companies. However, Brightcove 4 includes several features for ad-supported uses, including access to new advertising networks and analytics features, according to the company’s press release, issued this morning.

Founded in 2005, Brightcove has raised at least $86 million in venture investment from backers including AllianceBernstein LP, Brookside Capital LLC, Maverick Capital Ltd., The New York Times Co., Transcosmos Investments & Business Development Inc., Accel Partners, Allen & Company LLC, America Online Inc., General Catalyst Partners, The Hearst Corp. and IAC/InterActiveCorp.

[Thanks: http://www.masshightech.com]