Samsung Debuts Its Own Online Movie Rental Service

From DailyTech: Samsung has launched a new service for European consumers aimed at competing with the Apple iTunes movie rental service, with 500 movies to be available for now.

"The movie is tangible progress in (Samsung's) convergence strategy and a first step in delivering consumer services to rival those from the lines of Nokia and Sony Ericsson," research firm CCS Insight said in a statement.

The Samsung Movies service will let consumers buy or rent movies and TV episodes directly to their mobile phones. The first rollout of the program will include 500 titles from the likes of Warner Brothers, Universal and Paramount, the company said in a statement.

The Korean electronics company launched the service in Germany and England, with other European nations getting access to Samsung Movies later in the year. By the end of June, there could be up to 2,000 movies and TV episodes available for consumers.

Twenty four hour rentals begin at $3.55 per episode, and $7 to outright purchase a movie. Newer blockbuster films will cost up to $24 per movie to purchase, which should be interesting to see if consumers are willing to pay.

Samsung Movies will be available for Samsung phones only, but will eventually expand to other phones, laptops and Samsung TVs. The company hopes consumers will be more inclined to purchase phones such as the Tocco Ultra Edition phone, which has an impressive 2.8-inch AMOLED screen.

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