BitTorrent has released the µTorrent Plus ($24.95 USD, annual subscription): the first premium version of the company’s free µTorrent client.

Torrent Plus comes with new features, including file conversion/transcoding, an HD media player, integrated antivirus powered by BitDefender, plus remote control and downloading capabilities.

"µTorrent Plus is a notable step in our strategy to make it easy for people to shift their personal media from their PC and play it on mobile devices, TVs, connected devices and more," said Shahi Ghanem, chief strategist at BitTorrent. "Whether it’s personal content sent by a friend or indie content found on the Internet, people are too often frustrated by file formats that aren’t supported by their favored device."

Continued Ghanem, "µTorrent Plus solves this dilemma. It has quality codec packs that we’ve licensed from trusted sources and a simple file-conversion built right into the client. We’ve combined this with an HD media player, a new layer of antivirus security and enhanced remote access and control options to make µTorrent Plus a powerful and easy-to-use solution."

Plus Features:

• File conversion: Transcode downloaded files right within the µTorrent Plus software. Initial supported codecs include: MPEG-4, H.264, Theora, and VP8 video codecs; MP3, AAC and AC-3 audio codecs. With these codecs, µTorrent Plus enable users to convert files and shift them easily to Apple, Android, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 devices.
• Antivirus: Powered by BitDefender, the built-in antivirus automatically scans downloaded files for hidden viruses and malware.

• Integrated HD media player: Download a file and play it immediately in standard definition or high-definition, within the µTorrent software.

• Remote downloading: µTorrent Plus users will unlock a new feature in the popular µTorrent Remote Web service. In addition to nearly full remote control of their home torrent client through any supported browser, µTorrent Plus users will also have the ability to download files from their home torrent library to the remote computer.
  

µTorrent Plus and BitTorrent Mainline Plus are each $24.95 USD for a year subscription, including codecs, antivirus updates and new features that may be released at a later date. The software is compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. µTorrent Remote for Android and optimized mobile versions for Apple iPhones and iPads are also compatible with µTorrent Plus.

In related news, the company also released µTorrent 3.1 (free) and BitTorrent Mainline 7.6 today. The refreshed versions include easy file shifting to popular devices by drag-and-drop, an integrated HD player, and client performance optimizations.