'Place shifting' TV debuts for mobile

'Place shifting' TV has arrived on mobile, with SlingMedia and Sony unveiling competing products at the Symbian Smartphone Show today. SlingMedia will deploy a Symbian version of its much-hyped SlingPlayer application in Europe during Q4, while Sony is bundling its LocationFree software with Sony Ericsson's P990 smartphone.

Both services allow mobile users to remotely access living room set-top-boxes and stream video content (be that live TV or PVR recordings) to their phones wherever they are in the world, via either a 3G or Wi-Fi connection.

SlingMedia initially made its mobile player available for Windows-powered phones in the US earlier this year. To use the service, punters need to buy a SlingBox for $180-$250, which plugs into their existing set-top-box.

In a live demo it took approximately 10 seconds for the SlingPlayer software to switch TV channels during a live stream relayed from San Francisco to London using a 3G connection.

Wi-Fi hotspots will remain the most viable mobile connection method for the foreseeable future, however, with the eye watering 100MB/hour of data the service consumes prohibitive on most operator data plans.

SlingMedia told ME it is currently in discussions with networks and vendors regarding embedding the technology in handsets, stressing that the app is particularly attractive to converged 'triple play' service providers.

Sony's LocationFree software works in much the same way. The LocationFree Base Station (£229) works in conjunction with the LocationFree Player, which can either be downloaded to the phone or bundled on a Memory Stick.

"LocationFree completely removes the constraints of having to be at home to enjoy your favourite programmes," said Steve Walker, VP of product marketing at Sony Ericsson. "The P990, with its large 2.8 inch touchscreen is the perfect device for this. It is a high performance smartphone that gives a really great viewing experience, coupled with high-speed connectivity."

Blake Krikorian, co-founder and CEO of Sling Media, said: "People love their living room TV programming and simply want the ability to watch it on any device wherever they happen to be, whether at work on their PC, around the home on their wireless laptop, or on the go via their mobile phone."

(c) Mobile Entertainment

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