Netflix App Coming to iPhone

7 Jun, 2010 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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As expected, Apple June 7 said the popular Netflix app will be made available for free for the iPhone beginning this summer.

Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings made the announcement during this morning’s keynote by Apple CEO Steve Jobs to unveil the new iPhone 4 at Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2010 in San Jose, Calif.

“I'm happy to announce Netflix for iPhone coming this summer, for free,” Hastings told attendees. He said inclusion of the Netflix app to the iPhone was a no-brainer after it became the No. 1 downloaded entertainment app for the recently launched iPad tablet computer.

Indeed, the Netflix app allows iPhone users to update, change and navigate their Netflix DVD/Blu-ray Disc rental queues, in addition to stream movies instantly when available.

The iPhone 4, which Apple will begin accepting orders for June 15, features improved 960 by 640 resolution, real-time video interaction when making phone calls, and allows users to record and edit video in high-definition, among other features.

The 16GB unit retails for $199, and $299 for the 32GB model. Apple June 24 will start selling the iPhone 3G S for $99. Through an arrangement with AT&T, exclusive telecommunications carrier for the iPhone, 3G owners can upgrade to an iPhone 4 six months early if their contracts expire in 2010.

Jobs, citing Nielsen data, said the iPhone now represented 28% of the smartphone market in the United States, just behind the Blackberry with 35%. Windows and Android-based phones tallied 19% and 9% market share, respectively.

Jobs said Apple gets upwards of 15,000 app submissions weekly, of which 95% are approved within seven days.

“They come in at up to 30 different languages,” Jobs said.

The Apple App Store currently has more than 225,000 apps available for free and purchase.

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