Skip to Content

Netflix expected to release a Watch Instantly video streaming app

by David Winograd Aug 4th 2009 at 11:31PM


There are at least 27 Netflix related iPhone apps according to Macworld. Their purposes differ but most of them are designed to let you manage your movie queue.

A new player is about to enter the arena: Netflix itself, who intends to bring "Watch Instantly" video streaming to the iPhone/iPod touch and the Nintendo Wii. At present Netflix streams over 12,000 movies and TV shows over a large variety of devices including Intel-based Macs.

Todd Spangler of Mutichannel.com speculates, and I agree with him totally, that when released, streaming will be limited to Wi-Fi only. This is not because there's any technical reason not to stream over the AT&T 3G network, but like the SlingPlayer Mobile app, streaming will probably be hobbled to prevent massive data overloading of the AT&T network. This being the case, I wonder why Apple/AT&T allowed streaming of full baseball games using the MLB.com At Bat 2009 app over 3G as well as Wi-Fi?

It also brings up the question of why AT&T has been concerned about the issue of video streaming while Verizon, Sprint, Nextel and T-Mobile don't seem to have any problem with it. Perhaps AT&T is having seller remorse over their $30 all-you-can-eat data plan for the iPhone.

Putting corporate technological politics aside, I really look forward to the Netflix app. Even if limited to Wi-Fi streaming it will be a welcome addition to the stable of useful iPhone/iPod touch applications.

Note: Netflix only does business in the United States, so whether you are looking for a red envelope or streaming media, if you don't have a US zip code...never mind.

[via Ars Technica]

View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

iPhone iPod touch

There are at least 27 Netflix related iPhone apps according to Macworld. Their purposes differ but most of them are designed to let you...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

37 Comments

Filter by:
Stevo

Do people really think that Verizon/Sprint would be any people if they carried the iPhone? I highly doubt it, their coverage where I live sucks bad. Bandwidth is bandwith, if you have a lot of people using it up then there is going to be a impact plain and simple.

August 06 2009 at 9:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ian

@punkassjim
You're right, I should clarify that I didn't mean overt promotion. If my speculation is correct, Netflix is using a controlled reveal where someone was authorized to anonymously provide information to someone like Todd Spangler--though Todd's article looks like pure speculation regarding iPhone since it doesn't cite sources, anonymous or not.

August 05 2009 at 4:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
echave

There maybe nearly 30 Netflix apps, but none of them have support for subaccounts. I don't want my horror films being rated along side the TV shows my girlfriend mainly gets.

August 05 2009 at 2:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bert & Erny

Do you really think AT&T's network can handle it? Wait till the SMS is updated and see how things go then.

Still think AT&T's network needs a serious " OVERHAUL" along with a serious overhauling of the executive's

August 05 2009 at 2:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gilbert Palau

Just to remind if this is tied to the streaming Netflix Policy, it wont work on iPhones in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and other US Territories outside of the 50 States. It will work in Washington DC, territory (DC is not a state). But I guess it is because the president will have a fit if he can't watch his netflix.

August 05 2009 at 1:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nick

Well, this is exciting news, but I'm still waiting for Netflix streaming on the PS3.

August 05 2009 at 1:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Nick's comment
Dano

It sounds interesting. However, I'm concerned it'll be like it is with Mac/PC... you are forced to use one of those computers - it's not account-wide.

If I wished to watch Netflix on my Mac I'd basically have to relinquish permissions on the PC to do so. The system doesn't care it's still me logged in - it won't let me stream to two different computers in different sessions.

I can't see the desire to watch NF on an iPhone making me cancel permissions on the 30" widescreen PC at home.

August 05 2009 at 12:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Dano's comment
David Winograd

Are you sure about that?
I've streamed video to a Mac and to a PC on my one account.
I've also streamed it to a second Mac on the same account. Of course I can only be logged into one at a time.

I've found no limitation at all.

August 05 2009 at 1:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

How about a stand alone app for computers as well? I would love to be able to go to my dock and browse that way, rather than fumble around with Silverlight and browsers that wont work.

August 05 2009 at 12:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steven Ledbetter

I do believe AT&T is a sponsor of MLB. There could of been some money at work with the MLB At Bat app. Just a thought.

August 05 2009 at 11:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Miles

I don't think AT&T should have any remorse considering Sprint gives the unlimited everything plan for $99.99. With a 1400 minute plan, family text and two iPhones on the plan, my monthly bill is way too high for AT&T to be regretting anything.

August 05 2009 at 11:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Hot Apps on TUAW

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.