NCR and MOD Systems Debut Downloadable Kiosks
NCR Corp. is pilot testing a new model of its Blockbuster Express-branded movie-rental kiosks that allow patrons to download a movie to a secure digital (SD) memory card.
No details have been given yet about what devices the video can be played back on. Samsung and others have announced or released TV sets that have SD card slots which presumably would play the content. Several Inside BlockBuster Express members have emailed or posted wondering whether the content will play on their portable devices. At this point, I haven’t had anyone run into one of these kiosks to determine that answer. If you know of one and can test, please let us know!
The announcement says that the pilot test machines operated by NCR in conjunction with MOD Systems are located in select Blockbuster locations and other retail stores.
NCR has said before that it strongly believes in the digital download model. Its existing Blockbuster Express kiosks are “digital download ready” and NCR plans to rapidly expand use of the technology through its existing kiosk base.
Rentals from the digital download kiosks will be tested at various prices. Similar to rental practices on Cable Pay-per-View and iTunes rentals, consumers will have 30 days from purchase to watch the movie. Once they begin viewing it, they have 48 hours to finish watching it before digital rights management technology automatically locks the content to prevent further viewing.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Found a note about how the playback will happen.
“The initial SD pilot will provide a digital media player to trial participants to enable playback on a TV. Future tests will allow consumers to move digital content via the SD memory card to a number of portable electronic devices, like notebook computers and cellphones.”
So it looks like there will be a device at the retail locations that you also will presumably “rent” to take home and play the content.
Leave your comments as to how you feel this plan will work.
January 14th, 2010 at 10:51 am
thank you for the bit of info. hope that you guys can also provide listing for the possible test market so that consumer can actually try and visit these locations.