Photo: AT&T

AT&T recently announced that it recanted on its refusal to allow Sling Mobile to stream over its iPhone 3G network and soon after, Sling Mobile v1.2 was available on the app Store for download.

Streaming television

Photo: Sling Media Inc.

Slingbox is a device that allows users to stream television shows to several Internet connected devices like computers and smartphones. Cable, satellite and PVR content can be streamed from one’s home, in real time. Mobile versions of the Sling Player also exist, which allow Sling customers to consume their streaming content on their mobile devices. The application has long been available for Blackberry users, Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile users but was initially refused streaming rights over AT&T 3G on the iPhone. Users called AT&T out for this seeming hypocrisy, since they allow Sling to transmit over Windows Mobile AT&T, but the carrier insisted it would put too much strain on its iPhone 3G network.

Rethinking the matter

Photo: Sling Media Inc.

AT&T rethought this decision after Sling engineers showed them how the app worked and subsequently gave the product the green light. Shortly after the go-ahead from the telecoms company, and having gone through Apple’s approval process, Sling Mobile v1.2 was available on the US App Store for $30 (approx. £20).

AT&T 3G network improvements

This announcement follows several reports that AT&T are finally getting their iPhone network up to scale. The often-criticised carrier previously admitted that it was unable to determine the scale of the iPhone’s success, but instead of accepting the blame for a lack of foresight, they resorted to accusing their users of consuming too much bandwidth.

Apple and AT&T have a precarious relationship as is, and the allowance of such an in-demand application will please many of the Slingbox and iPhone faithful, but the extent to which Apple is pleased with AT&T’s network provision is being widely debated.