mSpot streams brand-new movies to iOS devices

MacWorld

A video-streaming service is aiming to beat Netflix and Hulu at their market-leading game by providing iPhone and iPad users something those two services can’t: brand-new movies streamed directly to their devices.

The service—mSpot Movies—streams movies to your Mac or mobile device. (iPhone and iPad users need the Movies by mSpot app to watch.) More importantly, mSpot offers access to new releases, making them available the same day they’re released on DVD—that’s 28 days before many of those titles are available through Netflix, and a year or more before most of them are otherwise available for streaming. That's also an advantage over Amazon Video on Demand, which offers new streaming movies—but not on Apple's mobile devices.

Some new-to-video movies available currently through mSpot: Tron: Legacy, The Tourist, The Fighter, and Little Fockers. Of course, those movies are also available for rent through the iTunes Store, but only for those whose instant-gratification needs are subdued enough to endure download times.

Last week, mSpot announced a new “club pricing” plan to lure in subscribers. It offers three tiers: $5 a month for 20 credits, which can rent up to four movies; $8 a month for 40 credits, which can access up to 8 movies; and $16 a month for 80 credits, or up to 16 movies. The service continues to make new flicks available à la carte for between $2 and $4 apiece, but a top-priced movie could cost a dollar less for club members.

The Movies by mSpot mobile app is free and compatible with devices running iOS 3.0 or later.

April 18, 2011

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