Redbox Instant by Verizon hits Xbox 360

Way back in the deep, dark early days of Rebox Instant by Verizon, I got the opportunity to take the streaming service for a test drive. We later learned that the service would be exclusive to the Xbox 360 -- at least as far as gaming consoles are concerned. That exclusivity begins today.

Larry Hryb, better known as Major Nelson to Xbox fans everywhere, announces that "the Redbox Instant by Verizon app is available on Xbox 360 now", though he asterisks this statement with some fine print to let consumers know that they will need that Xbox Live Gold subscription in order to take advantage of the new video-on-demand goodies.

That is, of course, not the only fee customers will incur here. Like rival Netflix, users also are required to pony up a monthly fee for the streaming privileges. In this case, $8 per month for DVD and $9 for Blu-ray. Before you wonder why those distinctions matter for a streaming service, let me explain. Both subscription models entitle the user to four actual discs per month -- you know, the old-fashioned, go to the store and get it from the big red box kind. While that seems very last decade, bear in mind that many movies, especially new releases, are not available for streaming.

Hryb finishes up by noting that: "As an added bonus, Redbox Instant by Verizon will be unlocked from Gold for a limited time so download it from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace today". Enjoy it while you can.