Two weeks before, when 2Wire introduced its MediaPoint set-top box, it was reported that “It'll be a matter of weeks--if not days--before you see a yet-to-be-named service provider offering its own version of the MediaPoint, possibly at a sub-$100 price point.”

However, since that initial provider turns out to be Blockbuster Video, the curtain has been pulled back. The company’s version of the MediaPoint box is being offered for just $99, which includes a credit for 25 movies, for a limited period of time.

The blockbuster’s first set-top box will be MediaPoint that will provide on demand content to a user's TV on an a la carte basis. Once the credit is exhausted, the movies will start at $1.99 each and Blockbuster is promising thousands of titles from the latest movie releases to the classic favorites.

Apparently, the Netflix Player by Roku is quite familiar to this hardware. Movies are streamed by it from the Web via 802.11g Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet home network connections. While the HD video is supported by the box, Blockbuster is promising a DVD quality experience on any broadband connection, and explaining that movies can be watched instantly or viewed later.

The box will be available on order at the Blockbuster's Website.