In partnership with Movielink, Verizon is rolling out a new service for broadband customers that will allow Verizon DSL customers to download movies directly to their laptops. The cost of "renting" a movie from Movielink will be $2.99 to $4.99, with a selection offered at 99 cents per download. Once a movie has been downloaded, customers have the option of watching it as many times as they want during any 24-hour period. After 30 days, the movie disappears from the computer.

As a Verizon DSL customer, I haven't been offered this deal, but I hope to test-drive the service sometime in the near future. From the CNET article, it sounds like the all-in cost of watching a movie will be at least $3.98 (99 cents to download, and then $2.99 to rent), which is comparable to what Blockbuster charges ($3.99) at the neighborhood rental store.