Motorola, Blockbuster team up for mobile movies

BANGALORE, INDIA: Mobile phone maker Motorola, which is passing through a struggling phase, is all set to establish its might in the smartphone segment after having signed a tie-up with Dallas-based streaming movie service provider Blockbuster.

With this agreement Blockbuster's OnDemand movie download service will be made available on select models of Motorola cell phones and smartphones.

The tie-up assumes great significance, as Motorola is introducing two 3G high-end smart-phone models based on Google’s Android platform in the fourth quarter of 2009. The new 3G handsets will feature an intuitive user interface and an efficient combination of Internet access, messaging, and multi-media applications based on the Android software ecosystem.

As per the agreement Motorola mobile phone users will get the benefit of Blockbuster’s On Demand service and library of digital video titles. Users will be able to watch any movie/video games or can download the same on their handset that are available in the Blockbuster video library.

Rival Apple's iPhone offers movie download facilities through Apple’s own iTunes movie store and with this deal Motorola will also have a similar, or even better, service to offer.

"Mobile video entertainment is exploding, as consumers are demanding the widest selection of content: the movies they love in their living room and on their PC, now also available on their mobile phone, while on the go," said Christy Wyatt, VP of software platforms at Motorola.

Under CEO Sanjay Jha, the mobile division of Motorola is making a big push with the Google-backed Android operating system to build feature-rich smartphones that can be sold at feature phone prices.