October 17, 2007

Mobile TV: SlingPlayer Mobile/Palm Centro Compatible, Local Broadcasters Going Mobile

Sling announced today that the Palm OS version of the SlingPlayer Mobile is compatible with the new Palm Centro meaning you can stream live TV on your Centro from members of the Slingbox family. This has been a widely accepted rumor floating around the internet tech community for awhile now as the Mobile is also compatible with Palm's previous two 3G smartphones, the Treo 700p and 755p.

Things are really moving in the mobile TV market lately. USA Today reported earlier today that local broadcasters will be soon broadcasting their programming at low cost or for free to all types of mobile devices equipped with special TV tuners. This is a move by local networks to better position themselves to compete with cable networks, web TV and even gamers. No word on pricing yet, but look for either very low pricing or free main channels as networks will be able to take advantage of the developing mobile advertising market to up revenues.

The TV tuner required to enable local networks to transmit their signals to mobile devices is currently being developed with Samsung and LG leading the way. The tuner will add about $10 to the price of a mobile device in which it is embedded or cost less than $50 as an add-on. Among the technologies currently being developed, one will be chosen as the industry standard sometime next year.

Via Crave, USA Today