AT&T Grants SlingPlayer 3G Streaming Access!
AT&T has announced that it's granting an optimized version of SlingPlayer Mobile [$29.99 - iTunes link] permission to send TV over their 3G network, something that up until now has been expressly banned under AT&T terms of service.
"Just as we've worked with Sling Media in this instance, we look forward to collaborating with other developers so that mobile customers can access a wider, more bandwidth-sensitive, and powerful range of applications in the future," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Collaboration with developers like Sling Media ensures that all apps are optimized for our 3G network to conserve wireless spectrum and reduce the risk that an app will cause such extreme levels of congestion that they disrupt the experience of other wireless customers. Our focus continues to be on delivering the nation's most advanced mobile broadband experience and giving our customers the widest possible array of mobile applications."
The updated SlingPlayer Mobile will be a free update for existing users, and ends a long, winding story of controversy and constraint for US iPhone users. Whether international carriers follow AT&T's lead and allow the app to operate on their networks as well, of course, remains to be seen.
(And how ironic we post this right after the US government expresses concerns about network congestion...!)
[MarketWatch via NYT Bits via Engadget -- Thanks Pat C for the tip!]
There are 21 comments. Add yours.
Now this makes the iphone a lot more interesting.
This is great. I love the slingbox, but I didn't think the iPhone app was worth the money without 3G. I hope it performs well!
iPad, Slingplayer, anyone else getting worried about AT&T's network? We really need Verizon to get iPhone to alleviate some of this.
Is tethering announcement next?
Rene,
when it says "AT&T has announced that it’s granting an optimized version of SlingPlayer Mobile,"
Does this mean that iPhone users will get a low streaming resolution when over 3G? One thing I always hated was how poor the YouTube videos looked when over 3G VS Wifi. I'm saying "looked" because I'm jailbroken now and use 3G unrestrictor :-)
Great move AT&T
This is awesome...Google Voice VoiP works great over 3G calling around the world. Things are looking way up.
@jtz5: No worries. Tommorow AT&T is turning on 10,000 new towers nationwide and quadrupling their available bandwidth as well ;)
When u update to 3.1.3 look at the battery percentage remember it, then reset ur iPhone and when it turns back on look at the 1st intial lockscreen the battery percentage will be 8% lower then after a sec it will jump back 8 % to wut it should really be… Very very strange I thought apple was supposed to fix the issue not make it worse…. DO NOT UPGRADE PLEASE STICK WITH 3.1.2 FAR LESS BUGGY….
I AM LOOSING FAITH IN APPLE UR GETTING WORSE EVERYDAY, UR NOT IMPROVING THE IPHONE UI AT ALL.. UNLIKE ALL UR COMPETITION…. STEP UP APPLE AND BE A MAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When will this update be available? I just checked, it's not up yet. Did AT&T just approve it and the devs at slingmedia still have to update their app?
this means we will be able to do this from our iPad's as well!!
this is HUGE!!!!!!!
@Playa
Youve posted that several times. Who cares?? Get over it.
@Gino
I'm with you. I use 3G unrestrictor as well. If the update is going to downgrade the quality on 3G then I think I'll pass.
BRING IT!! cant wait,,,,
does it mean you can also use the Edge network when 3G isnt available?? ;)
Isn't it great that AT&T, an american company, now let us in europe and the rest of the world to have slingplayer with 3g. Thanks our great masters.
I bought Orb because I could stream live TV through my computer cable tuner. Then an app "upgrade" to fix a few things removed the live part. Nice. Won't honor refunds either. I think I'd wait to see if Apple allows it for more than eweew months.
I just want my batterylife fixed. :/
Too little too late. Nexus One hear I come!!
@D
don't forget you purchased a device from an american company=]
@SomeGuy
...which was made in China ;-)
@D
Looks like being over-taxed has given you a bad attitude or is it all those hours of listening to David Hasselhoff sing?
This makes the iPad a monster!
I am willing to bet that it will be a dumbed down low res version just like they do with YouTube! 3G unrestrictor is the main reason why I first jailbroke.