Google tightens bonds with YouTube users

Google is routing YouTube users further into the online search giant's Internet world.

People signing up for YouTube accounts automatically get matching Google accounts, YouTube software engineer James Phillips said in an official blog post on Thursday announcing the new development.

"We feel that by jointly connecting accounts, you can take greater advantage of our services both on YouTube and on Google," Phillips wrote.

"Especially, as we start to roll out new features in the future that will be powered by Google technology."

YouTube members who don't have Google accounts will still be able to use the popular online video-sharing service but might not be able to take advantage of new features that are added over time, according to Phillips.

Feedback in an online forum accompanying the posting by Phillips ranged from "real cool" to "I hate it."

Google accounts provide access to iGoogle custom home pages, blog readers, text applications and other online services offered by the California firm.

Google has been expected to weave YouTube, and hopefully its millions of users worldwide, into its online offerings since it bought the video-sharing site in 2006 for 1.65 billion dollars.