Sprint brings full-length movies to your phone

The war against your eyesight is on. Sprint is busting out a new pay-per-view movie service that streams full-length flicks to your tiny screen. They've already got 45 titles lined up for the service, including popular titles like National Treasure, Spider-Man 2 and Scarface. The new Sprint Movies service is in addition to Sprint's current mSpot movie service, which offers an all-you-can-eat selection of video content for 7 bucks a month. Sprint Movies can be controlled much like a DVD, with the ability to skip between chapters and resume the flick where it gets left off. Movies cost between $4 and $6 each, with rental periods ranging from 24 hours and one week, and 24 hour extensions are available for a buck. Check the read link for the full movie selection -- we're totally all over that Kindergarten Cop action.

[Jeremy Steele @ Sep 6th 2006 10:58AM]

Now where is Apple's true-video iPod with movie downloads?

[Ray @ Sep 6th 2006 11:06AM]

What the hell for?

[Kaos @ Sep 6th 2006 11:18AM]

$4-6? What a ripoff! Why would I pay that much for a 24 hour rental of a pixelated, choppy, less than Q-CIF resolution movie. $7 for unlimited monthly content is one thing, but this... this is just another case of the movie moguls trying to pinch every penny they can from us and make us pay once again for content we've probably already purchased in the past in another format.

[Pal @ Sep 6th 2006 11:23AM]

Seems useless for everyday use, but might be handy when facing overlays at the airport. That being said, I can't imagine the battery lasting through a full length movie.

[Scott @ Sep 6th 2006 11:36AM]

2 hours of video decodes on your phone. Will the battery even support that? Even if it did, would you want to burn up most of your battery to watch a movie on a 2" screen?

[b_a_boone @ Sep 17th 2007 5:57PM]

How big is the screen on my 30GB iPod? Yet it has the option to play movies if I WANT TO. I've been putting 4-5 kids movies on my 2GB mini SD for almost 2years with my ppc-6700 for my son when we are in the car. It's not a bad service to offer.

I understand people would like their network to be stronger and not so spotty though in some areas.

[Socko @ Sep 6th 2006 11:39AM]

Sprint loves to have these great plans for people but lacks a decent phone to view them on..... why on earth would I want to watch a movie on a tiny a$$ screen

[Logan Renz @ Sep 6th 2006 11:57AM]

It's good to see someone doing this. I am sure the audience is small, but I have no doubt that it exists. To those complaining about the service I pose this question. Why are you upset about a service that does no harm to anyone, but gives a niche group access to something they want?

[XServed @ Sep 6th 2006 12:17PM]

I'll tell you why....because its a waste of time and resources.

[Forrest @ Sep 6th 2006 12:28PM]

I'll tell you why....because its a waste of time and resources.
---------------
Are you a Sprint shareholder? If so, maybe you have a right to complain. If not, why should you care? If you don't like the service, DON'T USE IT.

Just because a company is offering a new way to buy movies or music doesn't mean they're trying to screw you out of more money. Noone is making you partake.

I've been stuck in enough airports to find this service appealing. And if they're being honest about mSpot subscriptions growing steadily, then a lot of others find it appealing as well. If it's really such a bad idea, time will tell, the service will fail, and they'll pull the plug.

What I'd really like to see, though, is an option to stream a higher-res version of the movie to a PC..that would make the service a lot more attractive.

[otakucode @ Sep 6th 2006 12:29PM]

Sprint: We do not want this. I could have told you this if you'd simply asked.

[Skrilla @ Sep 6th 2006 12:30PM]

worst. idea. ever.

how about making your PHONE service worth a shite?

[Forrest @ Sep 6th 2006 12:48PM]

Wow, otakucode... I'm sure there are a few marketing departments around the country that would LOVE to get their hands on you. You know, considering you can speak for the entire customer base.

[Joe @ Sep 6th 2006 12:51PM]

This is pointless, my 42" plasma isn't big enough, why would i watch tv on my 2" phone. I tried the trial version and the feed was interrupted...buffering.......

[Erk @ Sep 6th 2006 1:09PM]

All of you should run these companies. Hell, maybe run the country. Your opinions should be held as high as the sky, your likeness should be all over the media and statues should be erected in your honor. All this because you guys are truly the common sense that this world needs.

WHO THE HELL CARES IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT SPRINT IS DOING? IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA BUY IT THEN STFU. Idiots.

[Skrilla @ Sep 6th 2006 1:18PM]

Erk -

one of the reasons people care is because they (company) WASTE their money developing and marketing this CRAP, while their PHONE service sucks. More money they waste on this garbage, more money you have to pay for other services - IDIOT.

[Forrest @ Sep 6th 2006 1:33PM]

If you're a Sprint customer and you don't like the way they're directing their business, then there are lots of other choices. If you're not a Sprint customer, then why do you care?

[Senor Pantalones @ Sep 6th 2006 1:36PM]

Actually, I have no problems with my Sprint service...and really haven't had any in the last 6 years I've been with them.

And I love my phone (pictured above)

As they say, YMMV

[nerdo @ Sep 6th 2006 1:56PM]

I love Sprint's service and I have been with them for 3 years with no problems at all. I don't think I'd ever use this movie streaming thing, but its good to see a company take the initiative to develop it.

[phone headset @ Sep 6th 2006 3:09PM]

Have you seen the quality of the video on this phone? It's horrible to say the least...

[I,Robot @ Sep 6th 2006 3:13PM]

6 bucks for a 24 hour rental of Kindergarten Cop? Um... No. Sprint should PAY us to watch it.

[Jonathan Bruder @ Sep 6th 2006 3:23PM]

I already watch full-length movies on my SDA, using pocket divx encoder to shrink them to 320x240 and Core media player. YES, the battery lasts that long (usually enough for two movies, tbh) and I can even read subtitles. For most people, this is not useful functionality, but I have a long bus commute to and from work, during which this works nicely.

[Giovanni @ Sep 6th 2006 5:13PM]

I am pretty sure that despite the relatively small screens of the cell phones, there will be a lot of users that will enjoy this kind of volatile entertainment.

The rental options are interesting, but a little bit expensive.

We'll *see*.

Giovanni
http://bloggingleads.blogspot.com

[GSM Mike @ Sep 6th 2006 6:55PM]

Do people honestly use Sprint?

Not me, GSM only.

[Brad @ Sep 6th 2006 7:34PM]

Which phone would you like Sprint to offer? The RAZR or WHTEVR? No thanks, I'll take the a900 anyday. Almost a year old and still the best phone out there. I've been with sprint for about a year (switched from verizon) and I couldn't be happier.

Seriously, if you don't want this service, then don't use it. The reason it's pricey is because it's for the times when you have no other choice (being stuck in an airport). It's not like people are going to be renting movies at home just to curl up on their couch with their cellphone...

[PPC @ Sep 6th 2006 10:40PM]

Are you serious Brad? I went through 3 A900s! I couldn't take it anymore so i took the phone back. I don't think Sprint's EV-DO service is ready for this kind bandwith usage, or maybe they are since no one will be using it!

[Brad @ Sep 7th 2006 12:34AM]

Maybe I just got lucky, but I love my a900. And now that I've discovered flurrymail (free email ap), it does everything I need.

This phone is tough too. I'm not one to baby my phone - it's been dropped countles times- and while the paint might have worn on the edges, it's still looks and works great.

Maybe it's my market, but their EVDO speeds in ATL are great. I still use verzion on my work laptop, but they both work the same, and both offer the same speed - though verizon is more mac friendly.

I hated sprint 3 years ago and left, but I'm happy to be back.

[Ryan @ Sep 7th 2006 10:45AM]

I have the a900 (the phone in the picture) and there is no way the battery would last streaming a whole movie. I would rather watch a full movie on my ipod

[Suki @ Sep 8th 2006 5:01AM]

Maybe one of these days Sprint can bring full-length phone calls to their phones.