YouTube is getting serious about mobilecasting, expanding its mobile service to include virtually all of the videos available on its Web site.

Starting today, people with current generation mobile phones can watch tens of millions of YouTube videos. YouTube also is providing mobile access to many of the same features that have become staples of its Web site. The additional mobile features include the ability to rate videos and share clips with friends.

According to YouTube, more than 100 million devices worldwide should be able to access the expanded mobile service. This opens up a large new audience for Internet video consumption, an audience that will only get bigger as devices get more powerful and mobile Internet service gets faster.

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YouTube is also offering YouTube for Mobile via a free downloadable Java application for a limited number of mobile phones, giving users a more interactive experience. Currently in beta and available in US and UK English, the application offers another way to access YouTube for Mobile. At this time, the YouTube for Mobile application is supported only on J2ME (Java) MIDP2 devices with streaming video capabilities. This includes the Sony Ericsson k800, w880, Nokia e65, n95, n73, 6110 navigator and 6120 classic.

The expansion of YouTube’s mobile offering will improve the user experience, giving YouTube users the ability to engage the world of video anytime and anywhere. With more mobile functionality and features, YouTube for Mobile will also allow users to develop more innovative original content directly from their mobile devices and encourage new users to share and engage the community.

*YouTube for Mobile (m.youtube.com) is available in the following countries and in the below languages: Countries: United States, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, Germany and Russia Languages: English, Japanese, Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Chinese (Traditional), German, Russian.