AmazonTube or OpenTube? Amazon's latest patent reveals YouTube competitor

In an effort to compete with video streaming service YouTube, Amazon has applied for a trademark this week called, “AmazonTube” and “OpenTube” as the company’s public spat with Google continues to grow.

To recap, this spat escalated when Google said it would block its video streaming application YouTube from two Amazon devices and criticized the online retailer for not selling Google hardware.

Apart from similar-sounding names with YouTube, the two bear similar characteristics to the service too. According to a report by TV Answer Man, the company has stated that AmazonTube and/or OpenTube would provide “non-downloadable pre-recorded audio, visual and audiovisual works via wireless networks on a variety of topics.”

Later in the description, Amazon describes the new service as an on-line network services that enable users to share content, photos videos, text, data, images and other electronic works relating to entertainment, including, movies, television, audiovisual works, music, audio works and many more.

The feud is the latest in Silicon Valley to put customers in the crossfire of major competitors. Amazon and Google, which is owned by Alphabet, square off in many areas, from cloud computing and online search, to selling voice-controlled gadgets like the Google Home and Amazon Echo Show.

However, it is said that the company is trying to resolve the issue with Google as soon as possible but customers could access YouTube through the internet - not an app - on the devices in the meantime. The break has been a long time coming. Amazon kicked the Chromecast, Google's television player, off its retail website in 2015, along with Apple’s TV player. Amazon had explained the move by saying it wanted to avoid confusing customers who might expect its Prime Video service to be available on devices sold by Amazon.

On the other hand, Amazon and Apple mended ties earlier this year when it was announced Prime Video would come to Apple TV. Not so with Google. In September, Google cut off YouTube from the Amazon Echo Show, which had displayed videos on its touchscreen without video recommendations, channel subscriptions and other features. Amazon later reintroduced YouTube to the device, but the voice commands it added violated the use terms and on Tuesday Google again removed the service.