Redbox Instant from Verizon is joining the video-streaming fray later this month, so get ready for another $8-a-month streaming service. Redbox has carved a niche for itself by offering recent blockbuster releases, something that Netflix doesn't offer through its instant view option.
However, Redbox Instant won't include TV shows, an offering that Netflix has beefed up in recent years. Redbox Instant is for movie lovers only.
Like with Netflix, Redbox Instant subscribers can stream an unlimited number of movies, but they'll be able to choose from a much bigger listing of recent releases, such as "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" and "The Hunger Games." And not to leave the popular Redbox kiosks behind, subscribers will also get four credits for DVD rentals. (An extra $1 a month lets people upgrade to Blu-ray movies at the kiosks.)
Verizon is also offering a non-subscriber option by making movies available for purchase or rental, much like Apple's iTunes and Amazon On Demand.
But there's another catch — no app for Roku , the most popular streaming player, and no app for game consoles. At launch, Redbox Instant will be available for iOS, Android, Blu-ray players and TVs from Samsung and LG, as well as Google TV. More devices will be announced in the coming months, according to Verizon's press release.
You have to sign up online to be put on the list to receive the service. Your first subscription month is free.