One of the key issues that Netflix has had with regards to mobile viewing is the fact that it's pretty much impossible to watch it without WiFi.
You can, of course, watch things on 3G and 4G - but it can sometimes eat up a lot of your mobile data allowances and, in some cases, end up costing you a lot of money. The solution? Offline play.
Essentially, Netflix would download shows you specify to your phone, iPad or laptop for you to watch without an Internet connection. It's been rumoured for quite some time, however reports suggest that Netflix are actively developing the feature with a plan to rolling it out before the end of the year.
A report by streaming and technology site LightReading.com confirms that Netflix is planning to roll out the service before the end of the year. For their part, Netflix have been slow to confirm the news or respond to the news. A statement from Netflix simply stated that the streaming service is "always exploring ways to make the service better."
Meanwhile, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said that the company is keeping an "open mind" about the option. The reality is that Netflix is no longer the only streaming service in town and, more to the point, Amazon Video offers offline play for any of its title for a period of 48 hours.
The big stumbling block to all of this is, of course, the complex licensing agreements that Netflix has with the various studios, which has many speculating that the offline service will only be available to Netflix's own offerings, such as House Of Cards or Orange Is The New Black.
The question remains, would people use Netflix for offline play? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Via LightReading.com