The primitive Redbox movie store gets boost from Sony

Redbox kiosks are the most "old school" way to sell DVDs. Unlike Netflix (NFLX), which markets DVDs through the mail, or Amazon (AMZN) and cable companies, which offer VOD, Redbox has kiosks. Customers walk up to the devices in malls or other stores around the country, put in a dollar, and take out a DVD.

According to Redbox, it had 12,000 kiosks at the end of 2008, but is aggressively adding to that total.The Wall Street Journalreports that, under a new deal with Sony (SNE), the kiosk company will be able to buy DVDs directly from the studio, allowing it to bypass wholesalers.