Vudu to offer service on Entone set-top boxes
updated 04:50 pm EDT, Tue May 5, 2009
Vudu to come to Entone box
For the first time, Vudu will offer its library of more than 14,000 movies and 1,500 high-definition movies on hardware from a third-party, effectively becoming a service provider in addition to a hardware manufacturer in the process. Vudu chose Entone as its partner, which supplies set-top boxes and DVRs to small regional TV providers. Vudu will endow the Entone hardware with the same functionality as its Vudu Box offering, including on-demand access to HD and HDX movies, via a software update.
The move should make Vudu more mainstream, following in the footsteps of the likes of Netflix, which is now available through the Xbox 360 gaming console. Vudu's BX100 recently got a price cut to $149, indicating the company is trying to expand its subscriber base.
The upgrade to the compatible Entone set-top boxes are is scheduled for this summer. According to an Entone spokesman, the boxes will have the same functionality as existing Vudu hardware, including Vudu Labs functionality that grants users access to YouTube and Flickr. [via CNET]
