Foster City, Calif. — Sling Media will offer SlingPlayer Mobile software for BlackBerry smartphones as a free download on Dec. 30 as part of a public beta.
When used in conjunction with the company’s Slingbox set-top box, the software lets consumers place-shift TV programs in real time from their home’s cable or satellite box or DVR to their BlackBerry.
SlingPlayer Mobile software is already available at $29.99 for smartphones based on the Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian and UIQ operating systems. Another software package lets consumers place-shift TV programs to a remote Internet-connected Windows PC.
Sling Media’s BlackBerry application supports the following models at launch in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.: BlackBerry Bold, Curve 8900, BlackBerry 8820, Curve 8320, Pearl Flip 8220 and Pearl 8120. Sling Media said it is working with BlackBerry maker Research In Motion to make the software work on additional BlackBerrys.
SlingPlayer Mobile requires BlackBerry device software 4.5 or greater. Sling Media will check a user’s BlackBerry to see if it meets the minimum requirements if users visit http://mobile.slingmedia.com/go/bbcheck from their BlackBerry’s browser.
