computerwoche.de

Archiv

AT&T defends SlingPlayer's Wi-Fi limit

13.05.2009
The much-anticipated has finally made its way into the App Store, but not without some changes from the pre-release version. The biggest among those: at the behest of AT&T, the SlingPlayer Mobile application will only work via the iPhone's Wi-Fi connection, and not over AT&T's 3G network.

AT&T spokesperson Mark Siegel told that specifically prohibit the use of applications that redirect a TV signal to mobile computers, a category in which it includes the iPhone. AT&T portrays the concern as one of network reliability. "It's about making sure all our customers have access to the wireless network," said Siegel. The SlingPlayer Mobile client is available for other platforms supported by AT&T's network, such as Symbian and BlackBerry; Siegel confirmed that the restriction was not limited to the iPhone, but as per AT&T's terms of service, was enforced across the board.

Those terms file SlingPlayer's use under a category of applications that "cause extreme network capacity issues and interference with the network," specifically applications that require maintaining a continuous Internet connection. Also included under that heading are downloading movies via P2P file-sharing applications and operating servers. "It has the potential to consume a lot of bandwidth," says AT&T's Siegel. He also pointed out that AT&T has an extensive network of more than 20,000 Wi-Fi hot spots around the country at which AT&T's iPhone customers can get free Internet access, which will allow them to use the SlingPlayer Mobile application.

SlingPlayer Mobile also has a potential competitor in , which allows unlimited access to a selection of live television programming for an additional monthly fee. AT&T's Siegel characterized this as a different model from the SlingPlayer, since customers actually pays for the bandwidth they're consuming. However, Mobile TV is not currently compatible with any model of the iPhone.

Restricting the use of the cellular network isn't limited to SlingPlayer Mobile either. For example, when CBS released , streaming video was only available via Wi-Fi; on the 3G connection, users were limited to audio from the games. In addition, both the iPhone's App Store and iTunes Store applications limit downloads to files under 10MB while using AT&T's network. And when Apple first introduced third-party applications, it said that Voice over IP applications would only be allowed over Wi-Fi, though some groups have , arguing that the decision has more to do with AT&T protecting its business model.