Universal International Pictures has teamed up with file-sharing site Wippit to launch a movie download service. 

From the end of July, UK users will be able to download major Universal films on the day they are released on DVD.

Films will include new DVD releases such as King Kong and Jarhead, along with back-catalogue and special interest titles. 

The service is not a budget answer for consumers, however. Older films will cost from £4.99, but new releases are £19.99. For a special introductory period, consumers can buy three films for £19.99.

Consumers will get three versions of the film for permanent ownership: a download to a PC or laptop, a download to a portable device, and a DVD through the post.

The downloads will only support Windows-based portable media devices, and not Apple's iPod players.

Wippit is the third website to form a deal with Universal's download-to-own service, following similar arrangements with AOL and Lovefilm. 

"Having Universal as our first major movie supplier is a huge step forward for Wippit," said Wippit founder Paul Myers.

"We are offering our customers the best in big screen entertainment, with only a couple of keystrokes of effort. And, more importantly, these movies are permanent, not rentals."