SlingPlayer App Cleared For AT&T 3G Network

  • February 4, 2010
Sling Media's iPhone app for watching home TV remotely is finally coming to AT&T's 3G network almost a year after being banned as too much of a bandwidth hog.

When AT&T last year restricted the SlingPlayer app to its Wi-Fi network, Sling and advocacy groups complained to the Federal Communications Commission that the carrier was unfairly discriminating against the company since other applications already allowing streaming over its 3G network.

Now AT&T has dropped its opposition. After testing the Sling player app since mid-December, AT&T has informed both Sling and Apple that the app has been green-lighted for the 3G network. The carrier noted that it worked with Sling to develop an optimized version of the mobile video app to help reduce network congestion.

A Sling spokesperson said Thursday it wasn't clear why AT&T reversed itself on the company's app, but regulatory pressure may have played a role. For his part, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski applauded the decision. "AT&T's announcement is a step in the right direction. Consumers benefit from mobile video choice," he said in a statement Thursday.

Sling is still waiting for Apple to approve the upgraded app, so when it will be available isn't clear. But the company said customers who already bought the $29.99 SlingPlayer app will get the new version free. --Mark Walsh

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