Blockbuster is looking to expand its presence with the launch of 50 stand-alone kiosks for DVD rentals, the company announced this week.

Blockbuster is teaming up with self-service technology provider NCR Corporation to install 50 such kiosks in the United States by year's end, but the companies have not yet announced where the machines will be placed.

Initially, the kiosks will only provide DVD rentals, but they could eventually incorporate digital downloads as well as DVD and video game sales. Blockbuster and NCR have already been testing digital download kiosks and will install test versions in two Dallas-area stores this summer.

Blockbuster and NCR are looking to install 10,000 kiosks over the next 18 months. Blockbuster has 7,700 stores throughout the United States.

"This initial rollout provides consumers increasingly convenient access to their favorite movies and is one more step in the fulfillment of our mission to transform Blockbuster into a multi-channel provider of media entertainment," Jim Keyes, Blockbuster chairman and CEO, said in a statement.