NCR Tests Blockbuster Digital Download Kiosks

DULUTH, Ga. — NCR Corp. here said yesterday it is testing digital download Blockbuster Express kiosks at selection locations.

Developed in partnership with MOD Systems, Seattle, the kiosks are equipped to download movies and other entertainment titles to a secure digital (SD) memory card, and play them on a home television, computers and other mobile devices, regardless of brand.

Rentals from the digital download kiosks will be tested at various prices, the company said. In a departure from existing rental services, consumers will have 30 days from purchase to watch the movie. Once they begin watching the movie, they have 48 hours to finish watching it before digital rights management technology automatically locks the content to prevent further viewing.

The initial deployment will offer consumers a choice of more than 1,000 new-release and classic movie titles, with the catalog increasing to more than 1,500 titles by early 2010. NCR already provides the latest DVD titles through Blockbuster Express DVD-rental kiosks. NCR’s existing kiosks — such as its new outdoor kiosk — are “digital download ready” and NCR expects to quickly integrate this technology to its existing kiosk base as digital download becomes more popular, the company said.

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