So you signed up for the Redbox Instant public beta but haven’t received your access code yet? Well, you’re not alone.
The new video streaming service from Verizon and Coinstar’s Redbox unit has, in fact, launched as a public beta, a Redbox Instant representative assured us in response to our email inquiry this week. A couple of us at GeekWire signed up for the beta early on, but we haven’t yet gotten our access codes or run across anyone else who has.
However, Redbox says it’s working “as quickly as possible” to provide access to people who signed up.
“We went into public beta just before the holiday and have been inviting people into the service who signed up through RedboxInstant.com,” a spokesperson said in an email. “We’ve had tremendous interest in the service and we’re working as quickly as possible to accommodate everyone interested in being part of the early Redbox Instant by Verizon service.”
For people who haven’t yet received access to the beta, the company this week sent out emails for a free DVD rental, apparently hoping to make the wait a little easier.
Redbox and Verizon are aiming to compete with the likes of Netflix and Amazon with a subscription service that blends online streaming with physical DVD rentals from Redbox kiosks.
For $8/month, customers will get unlimited streaming, plus four one-night credits per month for DVDs. For $9/month, they can get Blu-ray rentals rather than standard DVDs.
Online streaming will be available via the web, mobile devices plus some smart TVs and Blu-ray players. The apps for Redbox Instant are available on Android and iOS, but they require access to the beta (and eventually a subscription) to use. Redbox says more compatible streaming devices will be announced in the coming months.
