SlingPlayer Mobile Released

SlingPlayer Mobile has been released for PocketPC 2003 and Windows Mobile 5 devices with a touch screen. A version for non-touch screen phones should be available within a month, which works out well as I’m considering the T-Mo SDA. As promised the software was released in Q1, though the current edition is a public beta.

While the Sling folks didn’t entirely take my advice in giving away the software, they are grandfathering anyone who purchases their Slingbox by April 26 and providing the software for free — after that, it’ll cost you $29.99. This is one of those rare cosmic events when us early adopters aren’t penalized in the wallet.

Sling Media says: A trial version of SlingPlayer Mobile is available today as a free download from Sling Media’s web site, www.slingmedia.com, as part of the public beta program. Beginning April 26th, SlingPlayer Mobile will be available for $29.99 and includes a free 30-day trial. Slingbox owners who purchase and register their Slingbox prior to April 26th will receive a free license for SlingPlayer Mobile. There are no monthly or recurring charges for the use of the software.

“SlingPlayer Mobile has arrived and we are thrilled to offer this amazing new piece of software to our loyal customer base,” said Blake Krikorian, co-founder and CEO of Sling Media. “SlingPlayer Mobile delivers the complete home TV experience on any compatible Windows Mobile device and works with your existing Slingbox. Best of all, we are making it available for free for a limited time so if you are thinking about becoming a Slingbox owner, now is the perfect time.”

“This is an exciting time for people who want a single mobile device that does more than email,” said Scott Horn, general manager, Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft Corp. “While Windows Mobile enables people to stay on top of their job and connected to the people they care about, the platform also supports solutions such as SlingPlayer Mobile that give users the freedom to watch their favorite television content while on-the-go.”