Google is shutting down its YouTube-predecessor Google Video, according to an email sent to users.

The search giant has given people until May 13 to remove videos from the site, with the addition of a download button on the video-status page.

After May 13, the button will be disabled and any remaining videos will be deleted from the site. Meanwhile, the remaining videos on Google's site won't play after April 29.

Google gave no reason for the closure, but Google Video has been slowly choked by Google, and closure is long over due. In May 2009 Google Video stopped taking uploads.

Google Video was unveiled in 2005, a year before the company bought YouTube.

In its email to users, Google "encouraged" people to move their videos to YouTube. You can read more here. ®

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