Google is stepping up its game in the burgeoning online video market.
Now, certain Android smartphone users can rent thousands of movies from Android Market. The search engine king said its video app is compatible with Android phones running 2.2 (Froyo) and 2.3 (Gingerbread) versions of Android, CNET reported.
The app also enables properly equipped phones to watch personal videos. Previously, the application was only available for select Honeycomb tablets, according to IntoMobile.
Another feature of the app, IntoMobile reported, includes a personal video section that aggregates all clips taken from a device.
It’s little wonder that Google is investing more resources in supporting movie watching via the Web. Tens of millions of Americans are hip to the idea, and streaming video pioneer Netflix is poised to expand services to 43 countries in the Caribbean, Mexico and South America.
Meanwhile, Hulu has been seeking to sell itself – and one of the tech giants reportedly expressing interest in buying the online video platform is none other than Google. Suitors are expected to offer their initial bids by the end of next week, AllThingsD reported, and sources tell the media outlet that Hulu’s owners are expecting bids of at least $1.5 billion for the site and its licenses.
That figure wouldn’t exactly break Google’s bank: As of June 30, 2011, the company had on hand $39.1 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.
