AT&T is now saying it rejected SlingPlayer for iPhone on their 3G network due to concerns over bandwidth.
"Slingbox, which would use large amounts of wireless network capacity, could create congestion and potentially prevent other customers from using the network. The application does not run on our 3G wireless network. Applications like this, which redirect a TV signal to a personal computer, are specifically prohibited under our terms of service. We consider smartphones like the iPhone to be personal computers in that they have the same hardware and software attributes as PCs. That said, we don't restrict users from going to a Web site that lets them view videos. But what our terms and conditions prohibit is the transferring, or slinging, of a TV signal to their personal computer or smartphone. The Slingbox application for the iPhone runs on WiFi. That's good news for AT&T's iPhone 3G customers, who get free WiFi access at our 20,000 owned and operated hot spots in the U.S., including Starbucks, McDonalds, Barnes & Noble, hotels, and airports. AT&T is the industry leader in WiFi."SlingPlayer for iPhone is already "live" in the U.K. iTunes Store. It is expected anytime now in the U.S. store. It will be selling for $29.99 for WiFi ONLY which is a bit high for the App Store, but the same price that it sold for other mobile platforms. I will be buying it as soon as it arrives.