AT&T Bans SlingPlayer 3G on iPhone, Other 3G Phones Still Welcome

From DailyTech: Sling Media’s Slingbox is an intriguing device that allows you to view your cable TV or recorded PVR content on-the-go via transmission from an internet-connected home PC. The technology was made even sweeter when 3G streaming SlingPlayer Mobile was unveiled for smartphones.

However, just as good times seemed at hand for iPhone users, the service's 3G streaming capabilities were unexpectedly absent in the $30 app that hit Apple's App Store this week. It turns out AT&T cut off the 3G streaming citing that its HSPA network likely could not handle the strain.

AT&T issued a statement, describing, "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 terms of service."

However, the strange part comes in its following statements, and the fact that it is still allowing 3G streaming on BlackBerry, S60, Windows Mobile, and Palm phones. AT&T’s reasoning is that the iPhone is a PC. It states, "We consider smartphones like the iPhone to be personal computers in that they have the same hardware and software attributes as PCs."

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