You couldn't use the Play Store. You used a desktop computer to download YouTube_Player_240x320.jar from a forum like Mobile9 or Zedge . You then transferred it via Bluetooth or a USB data cable.
You had to go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources. If you didn't, the phone would reject the .jar file. youtube java 240x320
For millions of users, the search term was a digital lifeline. It was a gritty, technical, and oddly creative solution to a simple problem: How do I watch cat videos on a 2-inch screen without Wi-Fi? You couldn't use the Play Store