Wal-Mart Closes Movie Download Service

Did you know that Wal-Mart was in the movie download business? Or that they had a Netflix-like DVD-by-mail service that they shuttered, and then worked out a deal to send customers to Netflix?

According to paidContent, Wal-Mart has shut down the movie download service because HP is discontinuing the service that powered it.

But Wal-Mart’s decision not to look for another partner meshes with HP’s own explanation that the company discontinued its merchant store services for video downloads because the market did not perform “as expected.” The HP spokesman also told Reuters the internet video business remains uncertain and is changing rapidly. (Not exactly sure what suddenly clued them in to that or why anyone would rely on HP for technology in emerging areas following an example like this.) HP just announced in October that it had signed up 30 digital content partners to use HP Video Merchant Services; trying to find out now where that leaves them. The shut down of the IE-reliant, Windows DRM-based service also is a loss for Microsoft. The move follows AOL’s decision to outsource its video download sales to Amazon.

Comments

[Edward R Murrow]

"In 2007 the revenue was $104 billion [2], making HP the first IT company to report revenues >$100 billion"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HPQ

That revenue number didn't happen by accident and my guess is because HP is finally getting back to the HP way and respect for their employees.
http://www.hpalumni.org/hp_way.htm