Sling Media says it didn't change iPhone SlingPlayer to appease AT&T
On Thursday, AT&T sent out a press release touting the forthcoming release of SlingPlayer Mobile on the iPhone, now with the ability to stream recorded video over the wireless provider's nationwide 3G network. The company's statement said Sling Media and AT&T worked collaborated ensure the "optimized app" could run on its 3G network.
The misunderstanding comes from statements attributed in the press release to Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. He said AT&T and Sling Media worked together to create a "more bandwidth sensitive," revised version of the software. The statement has since been corrected.
Sling Media's John Santoro told ArsTechnica that nothing was changed in the application, and AT&T did nothing in collaboration with Sling Media to modify or improve the software.
"We didn't change anything," Santoro reportedly said. "AT&T never discussed any specific requirements with us."
SlingPlayer Mobile has always contained code to adapt bandwidth use and quality of streaming video given the current network conditions. While AT&T and Sling Media talked when the application was released last year with support for Wi-Fi only, the wireless provider never asked them to make changes to the application. In addition, the newly approved 3G-capable version is allegedly no different from the software first rejected by AT&T.
Reached for comment Friday by AppleInsider, an AT&T spokesperson gave the following statement:
"There are technical things a developer can do to ensure an app uses 3G network bandwidth efficiently. Since December 2009, we've been testing the SlingPlayer Mobile app and have now notified Sling Media and Apple that the optimized app can run on our 3G mobile broadband network."
In addition, as of Friday, the official press release on AT&T's Web site does not include the initial quote ArsTechnica attributed to de la Vega. Instead, it correctly notes that Sling Media "originally developed its wireless app to make efficient use of 3G network bandwidth."
The $30 SlingPlayer Mobile application was initially not allowed 3G access because AT&T thought it would use too much bandwidth and could "prevent other customers from using the network." Now, AT&T has said it intends to work with other developers to ensure that their applications can be safely used on its network without any negative effects from heavy bandwidth usage.
To stream video recorded from home, users must own the Slingbox hardware, which can be purchased direct from Sling Media at $179.99 for the Slingbox Solo, or $299.99 for the Slingbox Pro-HD. Slightly lower prices are available from Amazon.
17 Comments
Busted!
Ok Sling, you win the pissing contest - now where the heck is the update?!?!?!
Does anyone know the bitrate used for Sling to the iPhone? I assume the codec is H.264.
For reference, QuickTIme X exports to iPhone (WiFI) at 1Mbps maximum rate and iPhone (Cellular) at 80kbps maximum rate.
Liars! Liars!
At least they should have gotten their story straight before talking to the public.
AT&T is losing customers, just like health insurance and other costs people determine they can do without in order to keep paying on their under water mortgages.
Where I live, I never seen so many entire families living together in the same house for a long long time.
So AT&T is trying to keep sweetening the deal here and there are they can to keep the fat cat's paying $150 a month for their iPhones.
It's because so many others have dropped out due to the economy that it's freeing up bandwidth for the fat cats who use Slingplayer.
Also why AT&T has lowered their prices recently as well.
Good!
Liars! Liars!
At least they should have gotten their story straight before talking to the public.
AT&T is losing customers, just like health insurance and other costs people determine they can do without in order to keep paying on their under water mortgages.
Where I live, I never seen so many entire families living together in the same house for a long long time.
So AT&T is trying to keep sweetening the deal here and there are they can to keep the fat cat's paying $150 a month for their iPhones.
It's because so many others have dropped out due to the economy that it's freeing up bandwidth for the fat cats who use Slingplayer.
Also why AT&T has lowered their prices recently as well.
Good!
$180 for a SlingPlayer (a bit cheaper than that on Amazon) and $30 for the app makes one a "fat cat." Really? If you follow that logic anyone who's ever owned a Mac must be a fat cat because of how much they cost.