Netflix unveils streaming video app for iPhone

Almost five months after the introduction of a free streaming video application optimized for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) new iPad tablet, movie rental and video service provider extended the solution to the iPhone and iPod touch devices, enabling subscribers to view movies and television programming on the go. Available for Netflix members on plans starting at $8.99 per month, the Netflix App is available for devices running iOS version 3.13 and up, and operates via both WiFi and 3G networks--movies and TV episodes are organized into a variety of categories based on users' personal preferences, popular genres, new arrivals and subscriber queues. Selected titles can be viewed instantly or saved for subsequent screening; features also include fast-forwarding, rewinding and pausing, with content picking up exactly where the viewer left off.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings first announced the iPhone app in June during an appearance at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.  At that time, he said Netflix's iPad application is the entertainment app most downloaded by owners of the tablet device. Netflix has recently accelerated its efforts to gain online access to content from all the major Hollywood studios--earlier this month, the firm agreed to pay the Epix cable channel over $900 million to acquire digital distribution rights to releases from Paramount Pictures, Lions Gate Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

For more on the Netflix iPhone app:
- read this release

Related articles:
Netflix at work on Android streaming video client
For Apple and AT&T: Does Netflix matter?
Netflix releasing streaming video app for iPad