SlingPlayer for iPhone rejected at AT&T’s request?
Some feared it might happen, others thought it would pass with flying colors, but unfortunately we’ve got a tip that tries to shed some light on the situation. This was from an anonymous tipster and we’re posting it for information sake. We’ve already reached out to Sling Media PR, so in the meantime, while we wait, here’s what we’ve been told:
The application (SlingPlayer for iPhone) conformed to every single Apple guideline for applications and user interfaces, etc. The reason it was denied (actually denied today if our tipster is to be believed) was because of an executive decision on Apple’s end. AT&T had asked that the app be rejected due to worries about bandwidth consumption (this doesn’t make too much sense given that other devices has been using SlingPlayer Mobile for a long time…).
What do you guys think? We’ll update this when we hear more!
UPDATE: Sling says that they “have had no word from Apple.” Yay!
You’ve got to love the nation’s fastest 3G network…
Sucks to be an iPhone user atm… this is just stupid.
not surprised by ATT at all. but i am surprised at apple for sticking to them!
i think they will resubmit it as wifi only and be accepted.
Hello hello hello… oops now I’m promoting Metro PCS… anyway… what about us iPod Touch users??? screw ATT and their sucky 3g reception.
ATT=more crap in more places.
Before someone starts to bash AT&T specifically, you do realize that EVERY carrier would have done the same thing…except for Sprint maybe, since they like to give away the farm… /joke
So release it in the app store of every country where mobile operators have data allowances. I’m sure Optarse and Tel$tra in Australia would welcome the opportunity for their users to run up vast bills of data charges.
Well, the AT&T network in the Chicago suburbs by me is getting progressively worse from my experience – dropped calls, 3G coverage dropping in and out, etc. I actually have the Slingplayer app on my work Windows Mobile phone and, after it used to work well, the network connection now mysteriously trips from 3G to Edge every time I start up the app (making it essentially useless). Start Slingplayer, connection drops to Edge. Stop Slingplayer and in a minute, connection is back on 3G. I can rapid fire do this a dozen times in a row and this is the behavior. So, I suspected AT&T was already somehow targeting Sling packets through some sort of QoS management. This really angers me as you are forced to pay $30 additional for an unlimited data plan for the iPhone, only to find out later that the types of readily available apps like Sling and Skype are crippled or disallowed because people would actually make use of them. I guess we’re just stuck with unlimited use of email, web browsing and small packet use apps that won’t push AT&T’s taxed network too much but deprive us the potential of devices like the iPhone. Its unreal what we have to put up with in this country as far as our wireless networks go. Well, not that it would have mattered. With Sling reportedly planning on making me upgrade my tried and true Sling Tuner to a newer model just so they could take advantage of the iPhone customers, I’m not sure I would have bit anyway. I’ll have to keep my eye on Android.
While video quality would definitely be better over WiFi, it’s disappointing that AT&T has such little confidence in their network. WiFi isn’t available in nearly as many places as 3G.
This is crap! I have been waiting for so long for slingplayer on my iPhone. I sure hope this isn’t the case.
I would like more proof than “annonymous tipster”
It has been running on other AT&T devices, but the application does not have to get approved on those other devices. The big difference here is that AT&T and Apple have the power to single handedly stop anyone with an iPhone from slinging on their phone.
Quick to bash ATT, however if SlingPlayer gets used en-mass and eats up the bandwidth it truly does, the only people who suffer is the rest of the consumers as ATT raises prices to offset the cost of iPhones killing the network.
Its the same old with consumers…more stuff for less/no money
No shocked at all… it was too good to be true. Looking forward to an update
Unless you’re on AT&T, where if you’re more than five miles outside a major city, 3G is just as alien as, well, aliens.
ATT absolutely sucks. I do not know why any IPHONE lover would put up with the absolutely horrible cell phone call service that ATT offers. 3G coverage is less than complete. Someone explain to me why you all put up with this crap. There is power in your numbers. Do something !!!
If that is the reason, then the execs are very short sighted to be worried about a single app on one of the many devices they promote.
If ATT’s wants to deter large bandwidth usage at low monthly rates, then they should enforce their SLA’s that cap the amount the gigs you download.
right there is a huge reason i skipped on att and an iphone, i’d rather have a less “cool” WinMo device on verizon and be able to do what i wish with it. i can only imagine the frustration for iphone owners when big brother apple rejects great apps people love on BB and WinMo like the sirius satellite radio app and slingplayer so att’s “super fast” network doesn’t completely implode.
I don’t buy it. I have been using the BlackBerry sling client for months on the bold with 3g, and AT&T wields plenty of control over the BlackBerry – if they reject for the app store, then they can force RIM to keep it off of their device as well. This smarts of anti-trust, especially in light of some of the other apps that are available that stream (MLB 2009 doesn’t use much less bandwidth, esp since Sling can adjust its bandwidth usage at lower resolution), Come to the table with a real source, and then we can have a discussion. Heck, I use PDANet on the iPhone and my SlingPlayer on my MacBook Air over the 3g network, and no-one complains…
This is one reason I didn’t get the iphone and get a N95 was because I use my Slingbox alot.
Oh noes!
My Jesus phone doesn’t jerk me off anymore!
It made the executive decision to stop swallowing!
i thought big blue was improving the network???? Guess not Factory unlocked iphone on t-mo is the way to go in my opinion.
So let’s get this straight. In order to avoid my SlingBox becoming a paperweight and watch TV on my phone… I’ll have to give up my phone and apps to get another AT&T phone (cause I’m still in contract) to do somethong that has already been approved for other phones? WTF AT&T!!!!!! You gotta be kidding me. You’re screwing over your cash cow. We should all switch to another company, so those bastards can feel it in there pocket. F*** the contract.
I just bought the new Sling Solo hoping to get apple to work. This is sickening. ATT can’t get a network to handle 3g outside major cities and apple is too proprietary. Time to pay for the early upgrade and get something good in June. Can’t call either company what I think of them. Lousy. Come on HTC and Bold..