Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs announced during the Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco an alliance with the six major movie studios, which will enable the company to offer online movie rentals.

The service was launched Tuesday in the United States and will roll out globally later this year. More than 1,000 movies will be available for online rental through iTunes by late February. Price will be $2.99 for older movies and $3.99 for new releases.

Users can watch right away over a broadband connection, or download and keep it for 30 days, while having 24 hours to finish the movie once they begin watching.

Jobs also unveiled new features for the iPhone, including a GPS/mapping system, and new software for the iPod Touch music player, Media Post reported.