Blockbuster is offering on-demand videos to Verizon’s Droid X consumers who can rent or buy movies straight from the pre-installed application.

Customers can sign up for a Blockbuster account directly from their handset. Blockbuster On Demand is located on the application tab on the Droid X from Motorola, which is based on Google’s Android operating system.

“The Blockbuster application on mobile devices extends Blockbuster’s multichannel offerings as part of the company’s mission to provide consumers with convenient access to entertainment content anywhere, anytime,” said Patty Sullivan, senior director of corporate communications at Blockbuster, Dallas.
 
“Droid X users can download the latest releases from Blockbuster on their phones and enjoy their favorite movies on the go – without having to stay in a WiFi hotspot while the video streams,” she said.

Blockbuster provides its customers access to media entertainment anywhere they are – whether in-store, by-mail, through vending machines and kiosks or digital download.

Mobile movies
Movies cost $9.99 and up to purchase and $3.99 each to rent.

Movies that are rented will be available for viewing on a consumer’s device within 30 days of rental, with a 24-hour viewing period once the title is first played.

All titles purchased through the application are part of the Blockbuster Digital Locker, which lets users watch movies on the Droid X and any of the more than 85 different Blockbuster-enabled TV, Blu-Ray, PC and home theater devices.

Here is a screen grab of the application:

“Blockbuster’s goal is to provide high quality experiences on as many devices as possible, and we’ve been very happy with the features and support from Motorola, Verizon and the Android community in building that experience for users,” Ms. Sullivan said.

Additionally, Blockbuster lets select T-Mobile subscribers buy and watch the latest movie releases right from their mobile phones.

T-Mobile subscribers can download movies onto their HTC HD2 smartphone (see story).

Film rentals
In addition to renting or purchasing content through via their handset, Droid X consumers can also find movies at stores around them and access real-time store inventory, add titles to their Blockbuster By Mail account and manage their queue.

“Future versions of the app will add support for Blockbuster Express kiosk reservations and Direct Access, allowing any user to find the exact title they want, however they want from Blockbuster’s extensive library of more than 95,000 titles,” Ms. Sullivan said.

Final Take
Rimma Kats, editorial assistant at Mobile Commerce Daily, New York