AT&T today announced that its 3G mobile broadband network will support Sling Media, Inc.’s SlingPlayer Mobile app [US$29.99].
Sling Media, a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, originally developed its wireless app to make efficient use of 3G network bandwidth – and to conserve the finite wireless spectrum available to the wireless industry. Since mid December 2009, AT&T has been testing the app and has recently notified Sling Media — as well as Apple – that the optimized app can run on its 3G network. The SlingPlayer Mobile app already is available for use today on AT&T’s Wi-Fi network, the nation’s largest with more than 20,000 hotspots.
“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, in the press release. “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.”
“We’re delighted with AT&T’s decision to approve the SlingPlayer Mobile app on their 3G network,” said John Gilmore, senior vice president and general manager at Sling Media, in the press release. ” SlingPlayer Mobile on AT&T’s 3G network gives customers the best experience possible for watching their home TV while on the go.”
AT&T will provide developers with wireless network optimization requirements for video and other applications by the end of the first quarter via its AT&T Developers Program website.
Source: AT&T
More info about Sling Media’s SlingPlayer Mobile app (US$29.99) via Apple’s App Store here.
MacDailyNews Take: Now imagine the SlingPlayer Mobile app for iPad 3G:
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Manny” for the heads up.]
here.
I can’t wait for this update to occur. However, temper your hopes for 3G on the iPad. The optimization they had to do equates to lower quality that won’t look as good on the larger screen. But the wifi iPad app will be awesome!
Why is SlingPlayer important to me?
my question is, why is ATT calling the shots here? Apple does have other markets which ATT is not the carrier… That makes me a little mad, but also happy that I finally can use my slingbox as I wanted
I like watching my own TV and DVR in the hammock in my yard, at the gym at my girlfriends house (she only has basic cable), and mostly use my MBP for it but an optimized iPad version would be way better. The phone is too small, the mbp too big, and the iPad just right. Not worth the cost of an iPad for this alone, but it’s as big worth more to me than having e-mail on it. With the 802.11 N it should look great. The 3g is just a small bonus for the gym where the wi fi is intermittent.
What about iPhone tethering?
Thanks Wintermute.
I feel ripped by the app price, 30 bucks for a product i already bought? Why I got to pay twice? idk but i think slingbox needs to shift those prices down a bit.
Ya, ya, if its to expensive for me then dont buy it yada yada …..what eva
With the 3G utilization, I’ll now be able to keep up with a Pistons NBA game on my iPhone while at a Red Wings NHL game. Or keep up on another U of M lose, while at the MSU game. Or as mentioned above, I can watch whatever I want from my DISH Net DVR while on the treadmill at the Gym.
Before I could only use my SlingAPP when I had a WiFi connection. So while on the road I could watch my DVR from the Hotel room on my iPhone. I’ll be buying an iPad, and I’m looking forward to using that as a TV in my bedroom. I’ve already begun building a stand to hold the iPad in landscape mode to sit on my dresser.
Works well, but $10 would be a better price than $30.
Does it work with Pandora running?
LOL Chrissy One!
Just might have to look into SlingBox now…might be the way to go to watch my Giants & A’s games without being subject to MLB app’s blackout restrictions when I’m not home.
ElGato figured out how to do the same thing for their EyeTV system without AT&T;’s “help”.
The EyeTV device has some nice advantages over the SlingBox – as long as the Mac is up and running. (http://www.elgato.com)
The SlingBox has the advantage of operating as a standalone unit for live streaming, without the Mac being powered up.
@Joe: like most other apps on the App Store, it’ll be a free update. If you bought it for $29.99 already, just wait until Apple pushes out the update that was already submitted by SlingMedia, and you’ll be able to download it for free.
The slingbox is the best comsumer electronics device I have ever purchased (well, besides a few apple inventions). The SlingPlayer application was a huge disappointment given the wi-fi only requirement so this announcement is huge. According to SlingMedia – it’s in apple’s hands now – they now have to approve the app for posting on the App Store. Come on Apple!