Reuters' Kenneth Li reports that Orb Networks this week is launching a new mobile media service, beating YouTube to the mobile arena.

An earlier version of Orb's software allowed users to view media stored on their PCs on their mobile phones -- but the new offering gives users mobile access to a wide range of media from sites like YouTube or Google Video.

"Everything you can play on your own computer can go anywhere," says Orb founder Joe Costello. Adding YouTube to the service, he says, "required small tweaks."

Li says YouTube, which won't have a competing service available until sometime next year, declined comment.

Using the new service, a user can click on an "Orb This" button in their Web browser to make any form of media available for viewing on phones.

"Orb sees a future linking up with cellular service providers, who could use its software to let subscribers access the music and video they already own rather than asking them to pay again for the same content," Li writes. "The company, which has a deal with Britain's Vodafone Group Plc, expects to announce two wireless carrier deals this week, but would not give details."

Orb's press release is here.