European mobile wireless company 3 Group (or as it’s more popularly and awkwardly called, “3”) has agreed to offer Sling Media’s place-shifting service as part of its mobile service, starting December 1. Two of 3’s new handsets, part of the company’s “X Series” (or as they are more popularly and awkwardly called “X”) advanced broadband services, will come equipped with Sling’s application, which enables users with a Sling Box device to watch their home video services and remotely control their PVRs.
This deal is a first for Sling, which created quite a stir last year when it unveiled the Sling Box, which basically untethers home video service, making it viewable from anywhere in the world. Sling took that concept to another level when it introduced its software that allows viewers to use the functionality on hand-held devices.
As part of its X Series, 3 has also added another pioneer place-shifting service to its menu of advanced mobile broadband options. The company announced a deal with Orb Networks. Orb’s Mycasting allows customers to stream their home music, videos, photos, and TV on their X -Series mobile devices.
While the inclusion of the place-shifting services is news because 3’s deals with Sling and Orb are the first to legitimize and commercialize the idea of accessing home-based content with no geographic restrictions, 3 also unveiled at its X-Services launch a raft of other innovations.
First, 3 will allow users to make Skype calls over the new handsets. 3 has also struck deals with Microsoft and Yahoo to enable its text-messaging services to interoperate with Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! messenger. Yahoo! and Google also have pacts with the carrier to support full Internet searching on the X-Service handsets. Finally, 3 has a deal with eBay to support shopping and bidding on the devices. (A webcast announcing all these deals is available here.)
3, a unit of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., has spent billions building wireless, 3G broadband networks in Italy, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, Israel and Ireland, which collectively reach 175 million users. Unlike traditional carriers, 3 is selling its package of voice, text and broadband services for a flat monthly rate (no pricing yet on the X-Service options.)
Cynthia Brumfield at 8:29 AM|Comments(0)
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