Just weeks after the official rollout of its joint streaming venture with Verizon, Redbox has announced another major new product launch. Beginning next month, select Redbox kiosks will dispense ultra-thin, disposable movie players alongside traditional DVDs and Blu-rays. The players will contain one HD movie that expires after a 24-hour period. See the news release after the jump for more details.
Here’s the complete news release from Redbox.com:
Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. – Coinstar Inc., a leading provider of automated retail solutions and parent of popular movie rental provider Redbox, today announces Redbox Slims, a revolutionary new way for customers to enjoy their favorite movies.
Each Redbox Slim features a 6-inch, high-definition screen and 16 GB of flash memory in a case with the same weight and form factor as current Redbox DVD cases, allowing the company’s kiosks to dispense the new product without modification.
During the Redbox kiosk checkout process, customers can select to have their title delivered on a Redbox Slim, which will contain an HD file of the movie that will expire after a 24-hour period. Controls on the touch-capable display will allow users to play, pause, scan, and skip chapters in the movie. The Redbox Slim can either be returned to any Redbox kiosk for a $.99 credit or recycled.
The Slims achieve their astonishing low weight and thinness through an advanced organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen produced by Necio Technologies, a leading OLED screen developer. The players are water- and shock-resistant and can tolerate temperatures ranging from 50 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 35 degrees Celsius).
“Redbox has long been seen as a convenience and value leader in the home entertainment industry,” says Anne Saunders, president, Redbox. “With the recent rollout of Redbox Instant by Verizon and the upcoming release of Redbox Slims, we are also becoming the technology leader in this space. Our new Redbox Slims take the convenience already associated with the Redbox name to a completely new level. Consumers can enjoy their favorite movies on these tiny, razor-thin players anywhere their day takes them. There’s no need to return the player, and the Slim is made with completely recyclable materials.”
Redbox Slim rentals will cost $3.99 for a 24-hour period. Users can add additional periods to their rental for $.99 per day. The initial Redbox Slims rollout will be limited to airport and convenience store kiosks in the Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Chicago metropolitan areas. Redbox plans to bring Slims to every kiosk in the country by the end of 2013.
“Whether you want to enjoy a movie or video game in the comfort of your own home, or take the latest new release with your on a flight or road trip, Redbox has got you covered,” says Saunders. “Redbox Slims will revolutionize the way people think about mobile movie viewing, and we expect to see these advanced little players in the hands of people from all ages and walks of life. There’s simply nothing else like them out there.”
Have you ever heard of anything like this before, Insiders? With OLED costs dropping dramatically and interest in DVDs dying down, it makes sense for Redbox to look for more ways to use its huge kiosk network.
Do you think this is a great idea or an expensive mistake for Redbox? Can you see yourself renting a Redbox Slim next time you visit a kiosk? Did you fall for our annual April Fools’ Day joke?
Nice post Shane! …very creative!
April Fools! ;)
Good one.
There’s an old saying in Tennessee – I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee – that says, fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again. — George W. Bush
WOW. You almost had me with that one! HAHA! April Fools! This was almost as good as the one last year, with the people wearing the red shirts to help you return your movie!
The thing is that actually the technology is there or almost there so is not entirely a joke.
I hate that I fall for this every year.
Haha good one! I’m thinking R U kidding me? What next? Then I read the comments . Hahaha April fools!!
Right, and Obama is an American.
Right, and you’re not an asshat.
Damn, you’re good!
Yup. And I’ve got some ocean-front property for sale in Arizona.
I was looking forward to reading this article today!
I read the title and believed it for 3 seconds. It seems realistic but I can see them charging at least $20 if not returned. :)
$20.00??? Don’t they charge $25.00 for a DVD? What about a Blu-Ray?
Wow! That was a good one. Happy April Fool.
I’ve not rented from Redbox in several years. Netfllix makes it so easy for $8 a month for streaming. I’m too cheap to pay $8 for DVDs from Netflix. My DVD player is dusty. I find one great technology and another better one pops up. Kind of sad in a way.
I used to get DVDs for free from the library, but there was a cost for gasoline, inconvenience and battling band weather to get them there on time. Netflix makes it so easy, I don’t leave the house for 5 days or so. I’m retired. I can really be a hermit. I like it.
Ha! ha!,
This had to have people going for a bit! Ha! ha! ha!…But I must say. With the Box you never know! Right!
Have a great one everyone! And be well.
Aww disappointing post. nothing about closed captions ;)
I nailed my wife (again) with the old kitchen water faucet sprayer trick where you simply scotch tape the sprayer nozzle on and wait for her to turn on the water. She’ll get over it like she always does.
I would believe it but way too expensive and who wants to watch a movie on a small screen anyway!
I’ve been a subscriber too long to get fooled with this one :-)
I fell for it hook, line, and sinker—I am thinking it’s actually gonna be a real option!
I think they should bring back the laser disc and rent laser disk players
I got an email from Redbox this morning claiming they are going to start dispensing lunchmeat and bread along with DVDs. Nice April Fools gag Redbox.
Haha the funny thing about that is Redbox actually used to have grocery kiosks when they first started out, but they quickly scrapped the idea before it was really widespread.
That’s interesting. Maybe there is a little truth to that email after all. :-)
That’s interesting. Maybe there is a little truth to that email after all.
Funny, but I knew it was an April Fools prank just by the title, I still read it though. I bet others were fooled!
Sounds great. Can’t wait!
I CAN”T WAIT for the disposable movie player and the lunch meat to get to my area. I’m SOOOOO excited, especially about the MYSTERY meat! I’ll have me a little disposable movie player, mystery meat, and swiss cheese sandwich!
This just wasted 10 min’s of my day for some stupid joke. I think I will start to just delete my redbox e-mails without opening them. Thanks for nothing.
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