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AT&T to blame for Sling's Wifi-only usage
AT&T's statement, below: "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 [brand new]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." According to PublicKnowledge, AT&T changed its terms for computers, not phones, to prohibit the use of streaming media like Sling. According to the statement, AT&T circumvents this because it considers the iPhone to be a computer. All other smartphones which currently run Slingplayer apparently don't make this grade. Bolded was added to AT&T's computer 3G terms on March 31st: This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices is prohibited. This addendum to AT&T's terms, which was added after most iPhone users subscribed/agreed to a phone plan is what gives them the right to block Sling traffic over 3G. The question that must be asked: Why single out the iPhone? BlackBerry, Symbian, WindowsMobile, and Palm all have Slingplayers that work over 3G. It is all really moot because Apple has final say on what can and can't go into the App Store. AT&T asked Apple not to let the app in as a 3G streaming app. Apple probably got better pricing or some sort of other concession in return. End of story. ( Filed Under: )
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Comments
Because AT&T sux.
Because AT&T sux.
Agreed.
Its because they can't handle the bandwidth on their 3G networks. Im in NY and it barely works, let alone streaming a sling. I travel all the time and I'm dying for this app. I'd prefer to use it over wi-fi anyway where I'm near a plug!
We'll see if at+t changes their tune come the fall (spring 2010) with their upgrades.
you're crazy if you think
you're crazy if you think they will. They would sooner offer it crappy u-verse monthly subscription service first. F*** At&t!
Brutal. I knew they wouldn't,
Brutal. I knew they wouldn't, but seeing it in writing really illustrates the corporate evil that exists within that company.
I think we should place the
I think we should place the iphones on another carrier and see just how long it takes before they start telling you what you can and cannot do on data. bitch bitch bitch. grow up.
Pipes
Data traveling over pipes is a real thing. The pipes are either big enough or they're not. No evil required here. Having a bunch of free TV data traveling over 3g (despite the fact that there are TVs everywhere anyway, which huge screens) will disrupt all the other cool things people are doing with 3g.
Pipes
Data traveling over pipes is a real thing. The pipes are either big enough or they're not. No evil required here. Having a bunch of free TV data traveling over 3g (despite the fact that there are TVs everywhere anyway, which huge screens) will disrupt all the other cool things people are doing with 3g.
More to the point - just
More to the point - just because AT&T may have a awful network why does the rest of the world have to suffer?
Why cant the UK version have it run over 3G?
The US is way behind Europe with phones, even the iPhone is only now just about to get MMS! Why cripple Euro users for the sake of AT&T???
Because maybe, just maybe
Because maybe, just maybe this isn't just all at&t's fault.
If at&t has such a terrible network why are they having so much profit? I see no guns to customers heads.
The iPhone is a computer?
Really? Even my WinMo PPC from 2003 had a Word and Excel editor and copy and paste. Granted my iPhone is way cooler, but I don't see how you can make the argument that the iPhone is a "computer" and the other smartphones are not. I think it is just because there are more iPhones out and about, for obvious reason, therefore that is what would tie up the bandwidth.
I travel all the time and I'm
I travel all the time and I'm dying for this app. I'd prefer to use it over wi-fi anyway where I'm near a plug! tower defense
Screw the Customer
They should not be advertising a *Fast* and *Unlimited* service if they can't deliver. AT&T is a fraud. $30/mo for what?
Isn't this a material change
Isn't this a material change to the contract terms that offers us all an out of our contracts?
28th most popular app my A**
Wait a minute. AT&T made a material change in their terms and didn't notify me or send an insert with my bill? It seems these carriers are conveniently changing terms w/o notice only to claim (after the period to cancel w/o fee is past) that the notice was sent and the user didn't see it. Because they know if they actually send the notice that they would loose half their subscribers by use of the legal out clause.
I just read that Sling for the iPhone is the 28th most popular pay app ranked on Apple's site. It may be by the number of clicks, but as far as I can see only one person bothered to buy the app (and I think that was just so he could give it a negative review). I know it's not Sling's fault, but they are charging the same price as their other mobile players (with 3G); so $30 for a non-mobile player that's going to keep me chained to a hot spot is out of the question.
Lastly, AT&T can claim that their protecting other users by limiting iPhone bandwidth, but there are Windows mobile devices streaming Sling media right now. So it's ok for iPhone users to deal with the bandwidth lags so how are they protecting iPhone user's from the same abuse? - they're not! Instead their making us live with others gobbling up bandwidth while limiting the bandwidth that we can use. Come one AT&T give me a break... you lost me as a customer. In fact, I think I'll be writing my Attorney General to ask why you made a material change without notifying me.
blah blash blah lah
blah blash blah lah blah.
That's right start up another court battle then at&t can raise prices to pay for it. You idiots just don't get it.
at&t is not in the comm business they are in the business of keeping the company out of court as much as possible and making the stockholder money.
You aren't seeing the big
You aren't seeing the big picture.
It's not that AT&T worries about people slinging TV to their crackberrys (I own a Curve 8330) or any other smart phone besides the iPhone. It's that the chances of a crackeberry user watching 5-6 hours of TV a day on the Curve or Storm is minimul. Given the opportunity to Sling on 3G, iPhone owners will watch at least 5-6 hours of TV per day because it's a freaking iPhone (easy to use, nice screen, etc...) and the users are freaking geeks (I include myself in this group). Therefore, their pipe is no where big enough and AT&T knows this.
(Below are numbers representing only my personal opinion).
iPhone users that would sling over 3G > %80
All other smart phones to sling over 3G < %20
Semper Fidelis; Proud Father (and son) of a U.S. Marine