3 loses exclusive on Slingbox

AN EXCLUSIVE deal between Sling Media – maker of the Slingbox – and 3G network operator, 3, is now over.

The Slingplayer Mobile client had previously come pre-loaded on 3's X-Series handsets – the Nokia N73 and the Sony Ericsson W950i.

By installing a Slingbox next to your home entertainment centre (TV, set-top box, etc), it has been possible to watch TV on a mobile phone using the 3G data connexion.

Now Sling Media has decided to update its range with two new products – the Slingbox Pro and the Slingbox Solo which will retail at £199.99 and £129.99 respectively.

The difference is that the Pro offers four potential inputs while the Solo naturally only supports the one. Both feature a number of improvements.

Perhaps the most important change is the upping of potential signal throughput from 2.5 Mbit/s to 8 Mbit/s.Another is direct support for an HD signal from an appropriate set-top box/satellite receiver.

When the new boxes were demonstrated to the INQ via a Nokia N73, the picture quality was incredibly good. As was the ability to totally control your set-top box remotely.

Besides ending the exclusive deal with 3, Sling Media has shown its intention to push the Slingbox in the mobile space by signing up the Carphone Warehouse to distribute the product.

At present, Sling Media's Stuart Collingwood estimates that around 40 per of his company's client base use the system solely for distributing a TV signal around the home.

Rather than accessing the Slingbox via the net using a mobile phone, PC or laptop. Clients for Palm and Windows Mobile 6.0 based phones have been available for a few months.

Sports fans are among the keenest users of the Slingbox because it enables them to watch the cricket or cycling during the day and, um, while they are at work.

A Symbian client is now available for a range of Series 60 based handsets which will work on any network. µ

L'INQ
Slingmedia.com