Comments on: UPDATED: SlingPlayer 3G Access Blocked by AT&T Due to Competing i-Verse App?

By: Deez Nutz

Deez Nutz — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:39:22 +0000

Eventually…decisions like this will make Apple move to another company. By then most our contracts will be up, so we can just follow.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:59:06 +0000

I called AT&T on Wednesday asking them to keep escalating my call. No one was able to explain why I don’t really have an unlimited data plan. I explained that many customers would jail break and go to an alternate carrier, but it is falling on deaf ears. They ONLY see the $ and can’t think in terms of customer service. And SHAME on apple for not flexing their muscle on this. There must be a kickback in it for them too!!! This is total abuse to their highest ticket customers… Not smart when the phones CAN be hacked and carriers can be changed!!! Also, you CAN use wifi-only apps over 3g with a jail broken phone, and do it over a better carrier. Apple and at$t better look at their business practices on this one. Don’t f with the high ticket customers!!!

By: Davit

Davit — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:46:47 +0000

International carriers? In what other countries is sling available?

By: Chobbs

Chobbs — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:22:04 +0000

@cardfan. "ITV" can control my DVD for free. Plus I still would have to buy the dvr with or without the sling box. I still don't see the advantage of slingbox. Could someone explain why it's worth it?

And as far as AT&T limiting it to wifi. I do not see that as a criminal act. As long as they treat similar apps the same way. Btw how many people do you think would try and watch TV while sitting at a red light or even while driving. Not sure AT&T is being fair but the resulting limitation may be safer In The long run...just sayin.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:28:44 +0000

If this is wi-fi only, fine, no issue.

However, if this is 3g capable, ATT is going to catch a lot of heat, and Apple along with them for their approval of the app.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:44:43 +0000

I’m glad they released the real reason. I was seriously considering buying a slingbox and the app, but now that an app is in the works that will complement u-verse I’ll just wait.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:08:28 +0000

I was one of the long awaiting people for slingbox, i was even a sling beta tester for some of the other phones such as the TREO that was able to stream over sprint’s network. Now they come out with crap, only on wifi, if thats the dam case i will just take the laptop and stream from there!!!!

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:57:43 +0000

AT&T needs to drop unlimited data because if they put a cap on data and charged for overages then they would LOVE this app!

By: iBamse

iBamse — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:18:43 +0000

What may be the most irritating in this whole debacle is that AT&T dictates the situation not only for the US, but for the entire planet. I have very little reason to believe my carrier would object to streaming apps like SlingPlayer, Joost or Spotify. Or downloading large files from appstore or iTunes over the air. So why should the limitations be imposed on me as well?

By: cardfan

cardfan — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:16:58 +0000

@chobbs

Since you can operate your dvr with a slingbox and phone app, you can record what you want.

By: cardfan

cardfan — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:15:16 +0000

Apple would have to reject AT&T's i-verse app. Or make them make a wifi only version.

Otherwise, it gets criminal. You cannot collude to prevent competitors. If i-verse comes about with ability to stream TV on 3G, Sling should sue both of them.

By: Chobbs

Chobbs — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:11:54 +0000

this sling box thing seems to me to be a bit expensive! I pay for cable 120$, I have to pay for a hd sling box 240$, I pay for the app on the Iphone 30$, all to watch live tv that I cant even record to view at a later date??? (not priceless). Live tv on the IPhone sounds cool but I am not spending all that cash to watch 10 min of tv when I am bored at the DMV.

By: sting7k

sting7k — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:52:56 +0000

I had been assuming this would be a reason that gets overlooked by most. I don’t know why AT&T has taken so long to start developing their own iPhone apps, or why as part of their agreement they didn’t get Apple to whip up some for them to peddle their services if users wanted. Is their GPS software next with OS 3.0?

By: newyorkunit

newyorkunit — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:43:28 +0000

i-Verse? not sure I would use it if it was available. Purchased the sling player app since I have a slingbox pro. I am sure AT&T will charge a premuin for their service. Just like them to find more ways to get revenue for more crappy service