Netflix launched an iPhone and iPod Touch app today that enables customers to watch streaming movies and TV episodes. Netflix customers subscribing to plans starting at $8.99 per month will have access to “a broad array of movie and TV choices and a clean, intuitive interface,” according to a news release.
Available free for download at the Apple App Store, content for the so-named “Netflix App for iPhone and iPod Touch,” which runs on devices running Apple’s iOS 3.13 or later, is streamed over both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. TV episodes and movies are organized by category based on members’ personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and members’ individual instant Queues. Viewers can also pause, fast-forward and rewind the video stream on command, keeping track of where the stream was ended even if resuming viewing at a later time on a different device.
“Apple has changed the game for mobile devices,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer. “We’re excited that our members can now carry Netflix around in their pockets and instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed from Netflix right to their iPhone or iPod touch.”
Nice announcement for Apple and Netflix. The real question is can AT&T's network handle this streaming equation. I was somewhat surprised that they will allow this over their 3G network – seems like they're setting up a lot of people for frustration.
Kudos to Netflix. Hope this works out for them, but yeah we'll have to see if the AT&T's network can handle it.