Sling reduces 3G bandwidth use enough to make AT&T happy

After stripping SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone of its 3G streaming capabilities last year, AT&T has changed course and "approved" a version of the app with 3G streaming for sale in the App Store.

Key to the reversal were changes that Sling Media made to make bandwidth use more efficient over 3G connections. It took almost a year and a half for Sling to bring SlingPlayer Mobile to the App Store, and many users were disappointed when the app arrived without 3G streaming capabilities. AT&T cited a clause in its terms of service that prohibited "redirecting a TV signal to a personal computer," noting that it considered the iPhone a personal computer. AT&T also noted that the app could "use large amounts of wireless network capacity, could create congestion and potentially prevent other customers from using the network." However, at the time we noted that other iPhone apps—e.g. YouTube—could stream video over 3G connections. What's more, versions of SlingPlayer Mobile were already available on other devices on the AT&T network, with no 3G streaming limitations. Additionally, a number of apps that stream video over 3G started appearing late last year. Knocking Live Video and Ustream Live Broadcaster were approved and made available via the App Store while SlingPlayer Mobile remained unavailable.