SlingPlayer Mobile 3G Banned from iPhones by AT&T
Category: GadgetsPosted: May 13, 2009 07:39PM
Author: DLS2008
Sling Media offers a convenient device known as the SlingBox which allows users to stream cable TV or recorded content from an Internet-connected home PC to any Internet-connected device. Recently Sling Media released SlingPlayer Mobile for the iPhone to allow iPhone owners to access their cable TV and recorded programs through the iPhone. AT&T has now banned the 3G portion of SlingPlayer Mobile from use by the iPhone. AT&T claims that it is a violation of its Terms of Service to "redirect a TV signal to a personal computer." In the official statement, AT&T stated, "We consider smartphones like the iPhone to be personal computers in that they have the same hardware and software attributes as PCs." While this can be debated, AT&T still does not allow the 3G portion of SlingPlayer Mobile to function on the iPhone. However, AT&T provides free WiFi hotspots where iPhone users are able to use SlingPlayer Mobile. Oddly, AT&T allows the 3G portion of SlingPlayer Mobile to function on other smartphone operating systems such as Blackberry and Windows Mobile. If you own an iPhone, SlingPlayer Mobile will only work over WiFi networks; however, if you own another smartphone operating system, you will still be able to use the 3G network to sling cable programming.
