Netflix surveys users on iPhone application

News that Netflix will bring its streaming video service to the iPhone has been floating around the web since last year. But today we have a new sign that iPhone support could be on its way: Hacking Netflix is reporting that the company is surveying its users on the viability of an iPhone app.
The post reads:
Imagine that Netflix offers its subscribers the ability to instantly watch movies & TV episodes on their iPhone. The selection availability to instantly watch includes some new releases, lots of classics and TV episodes. There are no advertisements or trailers, and movies start in as little as 30 seconds. You can fast-forward, rewind, and pause or watch again. The movies & TV episodes you instantly watch are included in your Netflix membership for no additional fee.
Whenever you want to instantly watch content on your iPhone, your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network (such as one you might have at home or at work, or in public places like coffee shops, book stores, hotels, airports, etc.)
If this functionality were available, how likely would you or someone in your household be to instantly watch movies & TV episodes on your iPhone via a Wi-Fi network?
As the survey notes, if this application ever comes to fruition, it will be limited to Wi-Fi streaming only. While I would love the inclusion of 3G support, it probably still wouldn’t provide a great viewing experience over AT&T’s network as it stands today.
I’m not even sure why Netflix is gauging user interest. Bringing its streaming video to the iPhone seems like a dead simple decision. There’s no doubt a big overlap between Netflix and iPhone users, and such an application would bring an unprecedented amount of streaming video content to the smartphone in the process — potentially netting Netflix more subscribers and good PR.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings mentioned last September that the company will look into mobile options once it makes further progress delivering its streaming service to people’s televisions. Now that it has finally launched initial support for the PlayStation 3, and announced that Wii support is coming this Spring, it’s possible that Netflix is ready to start thinking about an iPhone application.
[Image via TiPb]
Tags: iPhone
Companies: Netflix