I’ve recently started using a couple new services that are now in beta testing: Floobs and Vailoma.

Floobs offers tools for creating and distributing web TV channels. Sounds a bit like YouTube, and it is, but Floobs is more geared towards setting up independent “channels” for associations, sports teams, community groups, etc. rather than being an instant source of video clips for everyone.

Floobs may become another useful tool for some, and it seems easy to use, but it has so many competitors already, and currently it seems to lack a bit of the sex appeal of some of the other alternatives. But it’ll be the content and the channels, of course, that can give Floobs greater popularity and make it stand out the crowd.

Vailoma has a more unique concept. It’s a travel website based on a Google Maps-like interface, collecting information and recommendations both from its users and its own editors. Vailoma doesn’t sell trips or charge for the information on the site, but intends to make money by showing targeted advertisements from “selected partners” to the users while they browse the info.

Visually the service looks very neat already and the interface feels fast and easy to use – a natural way to gather travel tips and to plan a trip. Currently, membership is by invitation only, and obviously the site still needs to build up a much greater collection of info before it can be considered a really serious player, but I think the possibilities for expanding the site look great. Vailoma also recently got more money for developing its business from an investment fund and Valve Branding, the Helsinki-based interactive ad agency I once worked for. Previously Vailoma has also got support from Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.