Redbox Instant Opens Invites, Prepares for Netflix Face-Off

Watch out, Netflix. Redbox Instant by Verizon on Wednesday began letting people register for an access code to use the streaming service.

For $8 a month, Redbox Instant will offer unlimited streaming of movies plus four DVD credits. A promotion on the service's website says the first month will be free. Users can upgrade to Blu-ray for $1 more.

[More from Mashable: Law That Prevents Sharing Netflix Histories May Be Changing]

The Redbox Instant Twitter account announced the open invites Wednesday via this tweet, linking to a Home Alone photo:

Users will be able to stream movies on computers, tablets, smartphones and TVs. The Redbox Instant by Verizon app is now available for Android and iOS.

The multi-platform new subscription service is available to any U.S. resident (you don't have to have FiOS TV service or Verizon-operated broadband). And unlike Netflix, which mails disks to users, Redbox makes subscribers pick up their DVDs or Blu-rays at Redbox kiosks.

The Redbox Instant website offers this quirky video about the service:

After providing an email address on the registration page, a Redbox Instant pop-up says: "Sweet! We'll share news with you and ask you for feedback along the way. We're thrilled to bring you this new experience, and we hope that you're excited, too."

Verizon announced the Redbox streaming initiative in February when it decided to partner with Coinstar, Redbox's parent company, on the venture.

"Together, we are erasing old technology boundaries, freeing people to spontaneously enjoy the entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the devices and media they prefer, at home or away," Bob Mudge, president of Verizon consumer and mass business markets, said in the February announcement.

1. Elf (2003)

Where to Watch: Amazon Instant | Google Play/YouTube | iTunes

What's It About?: Buddy, a giant-sized elf, leaves the North Pole to discover himself in New York City.

Memorable Quote: "You sit on a throne of lies ... You smell like beef and cheese, you don't smell like Santa."

Screenshot via Warner Bros.

Click here to view this gallery.

Image courtesy of Redbox

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/redbox-instant-opens-invites-prepares-netflix-face-off-140542318.html

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