Movie rental merchant redbox has unveiled a suite of new and enhanced mobile tools in an attempt to stay ahead of the competition and let consumers access their accounts using smartphones.

The redbox mobile initiatives include a new Android app and an upgraded iPhone app. These new tools provide access to the latest Blu-ray and DVD releases for consumers online and on the go.

“The new redbox Android app and upgraded iPhone app continue to enhance the redbox experience and make finding the nearest redbox location and reserving movies on the go even easier,” said Kate Brennan, senior public relations manager at redbox, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

“Our online and mobile tools instantly connect consumers to our more than 26,000 retail locations nationwide, delivering real-time access to inventory at any location from virtually anywhere,” she said. “The target demographic is mobile movie lovers.”

Redbox Automated Retail LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coinstar Inc., offers new release DVD and Blu-ray Disc rentals through its network of self-service kiosks.

Redbox has rented more than 1 billion movies and is available at more than 26,000 locations nationwide, including select McDonald’s restaurants, grocery, drug and convenience stores, select Walmart locations and Walgreens locations in select markets.

Redbox Android app
The new redbox Android app makes finding nearby redbox kiosk locations, browsing titles with box art and reserving movies accessible via their Android-powered mobile devices.

The official redbox app, compatible with most Android devices—platform 1.6 and higher—is available as a free download in the Android Market. 

Redbox iPhone 2.0 app
Since its debut in December 2009, the redbox iPhone app has been downloaded more than 2 million times.

Redbox has enhanced the app to provide additional content and faster connection speeds.

The enhanced app features movie box art and loads up to 50 percent faster to make renting movies on-the-move a snap.

The app is available for free upgrade in the iPhone App Store.

Consumers can login to the redbox iPhone or Android app using their redbox.com account, which is linked to their credit card.

When they arrive at a redbox kiosk, they touch “Online Reservation Pickup” and swipe their credit card to check out.

To find the nearest redbox location, consumers can visit http://www.redbox.com or text the keyword “redbox” to the short code 50101 from a mobile phone.

Currently, redbox does not have a mobile-optimized version of redbox.com.

“Redbox is a brand built on the word of mouth of our incredibly valued customers, which allows us to leverage our vast social media network to spread the word about new release movies and features, like the new redbox Android app and upgraded iPhone app,” Ms. Brennan said.

“Within about an hour of announcing the Android app launch to our Facebook community, the post received more than 550 likes and 180 comments,” she said.

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