SubscribeThe trend toward TV anywhere took another step forward Thursday as AT&T announced that it will support Sling Media’s mobile application on its 3G network. Sling, whose player app is already in use on the carrier’s Wi-Fi network, released a player for the iPhone late last year.
The announcement reverses a decision by AT&T last spring not to allow the Sling iPhone app because it would increase congestion on its 3G network. In Thursday’s announcement, AT&T noted that Sling has developed its wireless app to “make efficient use of 3G network bandwidth” and to “conserve the finite wireless spectrum available to the wireless industry.”
Overwhelmed AT&T
AT&T and Sling are saying that the new app has been optimized for its network, the result of a cooperative effort between both companies. AT&T mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega has indicated that his company will be working with developers to make data-intensive apps more “bandwidth-sensitive.”
The Sling app is only useful for consumers with a Sling box. The app allows the user to watch streaming TV from cable, satellite or DVRs from the Sling hardware over the Internet, as well as control the TV sources.
AT&T’s bandwidth capacity has become an issue with consumers recently, so the carrier wants to make clear that it is paying attention to bandwidth in adding new video-player capability for the iPhone.
In late December, blogger Dan Lyons — aka Fake Steve Jobs — promoted an effort to overwhelm AT&T’s network by having thousands of users run data-intensive applications at the same time. The intent was to protest the network performance, but the protest was called off after a warning from the Federal Communications Commission.
iPhone Is ‘Test Case’
According to industry observers, AT&T may have underestimated the iPhone’s appeal and the bandwidth needs of those customers. The initial projections by the real…
Via NewsFactor
Yacine.org: AT&T Will Let Revised Sling Player Use 3G on iPhone http://bit.ly/bvogU8
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