Video search engine blinkx has launched a public beta version of the engine designed for mobile access at http://m.blinkx.com.

The site can be accessed from any phone with a web browser that can play MP4 video, including the iPhone, Google Nexus One, HTC Desire and Magic, and the Blackberry Bold 9700.

Users can search, browse and play millions of videos from a wide and varied range of broadcasters and media companies, including ITN, CelebTV, HowCast and Lonely Planet.

The m.blinkx.com homepage has been optimised for ease-of-use on a mobile device, displaying a blinkx Video Wall of nine thumbnails of the top stories from around the web, as well as one-click category browsing, and a large central search bar. Videos are streamed to the user’s handheld device and play in MP4 format.

“This year, mobile video has hit the mainstream; the number of handsets that are video-enabled has reached critical mass, and combined with the prevalence of high-speed mobile networks and new flat-rate data plans, mobile video finally makes sense for both consumers and media companies,” says blinkx founder and CEO, Suranga Chandratillake. “blinkx’s extensive and varied library of shorter form, snackable video is the ideal format for consumption on-the-go. Whether you’re watching Britney at the bus stop, or game highlights on your lunch hour, our goal is to enable users to find and enjoy video from any device, anywhere.”

There’s more information on the blinkx Mobile Video Search beta, including a list of compatible devices, here.