VUDU allies with leading consumer electronics manufacturers to bring acclaimed 1080p streaming media platform to millions of consumers
VUDU Inc.has extended its distribution as an embedded platform to include broadband home theaters, HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players (BDPs) from LG Electronics, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Samsung Electronics Co. Inc., SANYO Manufacturing Corporation, Sharp Corporation, Toshiba America Consumer Products L.L.C., and VIZIO, the company announced. The VUDU Streaming Movie Service will be available on select models across all partners. In addition, the new VUDU Apps applications platform will be available on broadband HDTVs from Mitsubishi, SANYO, Sharp and Toshiba and on broadband BDPs from Toshiba.
“In 2010, millions of broadband HDTVs and BDPs will ship to consumers with VUDU installed. It’s a great achievement for VUDU and a fantastic opportunity to deliver the VUDU experience to consumers across the United States,” said Alain Rossmann, Chairman and CEO of VUDU Inc. “In just 6 months, from the time we launched on our first HDTV, we’ve increased our footprint more than ten-fold. By delivering a cloud-based architecture we have made it incredibly easy for our CE partners to embed VUDU into more products, while at the same time enabling the service to be continuously updated – to the delight of our end-users.”
The VUDU Streaming Movie Service provides customers with access to a catalog of more than 3,000 on-demand HD movies, and features movies in VUDU’s HDX format, the only streaming video format with 1080p HD video and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound available to consumers today. Movies are available to rent or own without monthly fees or a subscription. The service offers the newest Hollywood releases the same day they are available on DVD. All new releases are available in 1080p HDX.
The new VUDU Apps applications platform provides customers with access to a wide range of Internet services and applications including streaming video, music on demand, photo browsing, social networking and more. VUDU Apps uses a unique, cloud-based architecture optimized for consumer electronics devices. It was initially developed to support the VUDU Streaming Movie Service and allows apps to be updated without the need for downloading or installing software, ensuring consumers always have access to the most current version of an application. More than 100 applications are available on VUDU Apps.
VUDU services will be available on millions of HDTVs and BDPs across all partners in 2010.
In a related story, Walmart, one of the world’s largest retailer of DVDs, may be moving beyond physical media sales and jumping feet first into the online streaming business. According to the New York Times, Walmart is reportedly in the process of purchasing VUDU.
Walmart could possibly use its retail presence to sell the VUDU box and offer up VUDU’s 3,000 strong HD movie catalog at its famous discounted prices. With its name, its retail presence, and its influence on the DVD distribution channel, Walmart could wield enough power to be a serious player that forces the movie industry to embrace the online streaming distribution model. It’s safe to say, Hollywood will be watching this deal and the resulting service very closely. (www.vudu.com)
Publised on: Feb 24 2010
