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Sling offers app update for Windows phones that includes 3G streaming on AT&T

by Mel Martin Jan 27th 2010 at 10:20AM

Well, thanks AT&T. In the past I've vented my frustration that the much awaited SlingPlayer Mobile app for the iPhone was crippled by a new AT&T rule that didn't allow place shifting of TV signals on their network. The rule appeared to be specifically written to ban the SlingPlayer.

As a result, the best Sling could offer to iPhone users was a version that only worked on Wi-Fi so the fragile AT&T network didn't get dinged.

Now, Sling has announced a new version of the SlingPlayer Mobile version 2 for Windows phones that supports both Wi-Fi and the AT&T 3G network, and runs on the HTC Pure, Tilt II, as well as on some HTC phones on T-Mobile and Sprint.

Now this is not something the folks at Sling did, but AT&T is mighty selective about which phones can stream over its 3G network. Mind you, AT&T has no problem allowing multi-hour baseball games to be streamed using the MLB app, and Orb also allows streaming on the iPhone, even from a remote TV Tuner. Even Ustream and Qik got into the streaming video act.

If Apple ever dumps AT&T (and rumors say that at least AT&T will have competition soon) it won't be soon enough for me. For many customers, they've made a mess of the iPhone experience. I talked to a representative from Sling and he expressed frustration at the situation and added "we're working on it."


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Well, thanks AT&T. In the past I've vented my frustration that the much awaited SlingPlayer Mobile app for the iPhone was crippled by a...
 

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TTREXXX

bE CAREFUL MA BELL SLEEPS WITH UNCLE SAM AND THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE THE MOST AND BEST CELL SITES AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE

February 16 2010 at 9:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tbayrgs

Since when could you not use the Windows mobile version over 3G? I had a Tilt 2 years ago and used to watch using Slingplayer mobile over 3G all the time?

January 27 2010 at 12:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
FearlessFreep

Careful what you wish for. Verizon is even more notorious for locking down their hardware. People who think the iPhone on Verizon would be heaven have obviously never had Verizon service.

January 27 2010 at 12:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ealon

They recently disabled ORB's Live TV over 3g feature... Orb is useless now on my iphone...

January 27 2010 at 11:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

The primary reason I jailbroke my phone was to enable 3G action for various things. I didn't buy the sling app (IMO sling has become too money hungry), but I do like to use my data plan as a see fit. I also use it for the occasional tethering (50MB/month). I would like to get the sling app, but it isn't worth more than $10 to me. I can steam plenty of video on demand from online sources such as NBC, etc with safari and 3G.

January 27 2010 at 11:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
George

Just to let you guys know this.

You may not know this, but the iPhone is now available worldwide, and from carriers other than AT&T as well. Yes, in the states you may only have AT&T as your carrier, but the rest of the world doesn't have to deal with AT&T.

Why is it then that every single problem with the iPhone people start bitching about AT&T?

Personally, I think it's Fido that's the problem. Oh wait, no it's O2, or is it Vodafone. Nope, I'm wrong, it's China Mobile.

Have you ever considered that maybe the problem with the Sling app is Sling themselves. Sling are the ones who decided to charge for the app which should be free to begin with.

January 27 2010 at 11:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to George's comment
Dr. Klaw

Just because Sling is bad doesn't mean that AT&T isn't ALSO bad. In this particular case, I'd place the blame equally on both parties for creating a flawed experience.

Problem is, AT&T has many more widespread (both in users affected and in quantity of problems) than Sling does, so it may *seem* like this is just another case of piling on to AT&T.

January 27 2010 at 11:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David Schumacher

FYI - Orb latest update dropped live streaming over 3G

January 27 2010 at 11:10 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to David Schumacher's comment
airmanchairman

NO-O-O-O-O-O-O!!!

January 27 2010 at 11:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dr. Klaw

I have plenty of scorn to pass around, not just for AT&T but for Sling as well. It's preposterous that the SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone requires later versions of the SlingBox despite there being no hardware obstacle. (The original SlingBoxes worked in the beta.) Also, it's $0 on top of the cost of the SlingBox. Grumble grumble.

January 27 2010 at 10:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Dr. Klaw's comment
SireB

I'm with @Dr. Klaw. Ever since Echostar bought Sling, it's been all down hill.

January 27 2010 at 11:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tbayrgs

I know the official line for Sling is that older versions of their hardware are not supported--the app on my iPhone periodically reminds me of this---but I'm still using an older Slingbox AV with the iPhone app and have no issues whatsoever.

January 27 2010 at 12:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mkimble1

It's clear that ATT allows this on other phones because they must suspect it won't have an adverse effect on their network as the people using these phones aren't as data hungry as iPhone users are. ATT and the other networks are going to really start to hurt when more and more people use whatever phone they own to the same extent that iPhone users do.

January 27 2010 at 10:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DarenW

Sure, why not offer it for Windows Mobile devices? The 8 users still out there can't be much of a network drain.

January 27 2010 at 10:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to DarenW's comment
airmanchairman

Yeah, yeah, stick the boot in...

But you're right. AT&T will have the means to gauge a fairly accurate estimate of average usage (total Windows mobile owners who also have SlingBoxes at home, or who stream video) and that's surely enough for them to know what network stress their infrastructure can live with.

January 27 2010 at 11:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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