Free Netflix app to be available for iPad launch


It appears the iPad will have a killer app of killer apps, a native Netflix viewer. The player is also expected to be available this weekend for the iPad launch.

It looks like a Netflix app is coming to the iPad and the app is expected to be available April 3rd. If this all pans out, it will likely be huge for the iPad. Netflix boasts over 12 million subscribers, and most of those subscribers should have a plan that allows free streaming of movies and TV shows.

Likely it will only support Wi-Fi streaming, also the app itself will be free. It appears the app will only be available for the iPad, but an iPhone/iPod Touch app may appear after the hubbub dies down.

To view Netflix streaming you just need to be a subscriber to one of the company's unlimited disk rental plans regardless of number of DVDs out at a time. Unlimited plans start out at $8.99/month and only Netflix lowest plan excludes streaming. The streaming service offers many new and old TV shows with a growing library of movies.

Not even a month ago Netflix polled some of its users on the possibility of iPhone OS Netflix app. ( Netflix polling customers on iPhone OS streaming) Apparently the response was positive enough to jump on board quickly. Perhaps too Apple helped them out. Netflix runs on Microsoft's Silverlight platform, so either another solution has been found or Silverlight is working on the iPad. Microsoft demoed Silverlight on the iPhone last fall. It's addition could mean even more video content for the iPad.

Off the top, one question will be whether we can setup Netflix streaming on more than one device. On our end, we could only set it up for one set-top player. If we watch on the iPad will we no longer be able to view on TV, or are we supposed to get a second Netflix subscription?

And yeah, we're pretty skeptical considering the date... but check out the screen shots from Apple's servers. It seems legit.
App Thumbnail
Start Screen
Browse Screen
Player

Exclusive : It's Official - Netflix Streaming on the iPad

iPad on App Shopper

Via MacRumors