New Slingbox App Fees Ahead?

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When the recently released Boxee and Google TV Slingbox client “apps” launched (1, 2), I was pretty psyched. Not only did this represent the first time we could stream our content television-to-television (without dedicated SlingCatcher hardware), unlike Echo Star’s mobile apps, these new services arrived at no cost. However, the fee-free element may merely be temporary given the latest Slingbox emailed newsletter:

During this introductory period SlingPlayer for Logitech Revue is free!

SlingPlayer for connected devices is free of charge in North America during this introductory period.

Interestingly, the way in which EchoStar first presented the Flash-based SlingPlayer for Connected Devices about a year ago led me to believe we might see some sort of monthly or annual subscription. Which is why last month I was “pleasantly surprised to see it’s being offered without a one-time or recurring fee.” But it looks like I may have spoken too soon and changes lie ahead… perhaps dependent on uptake.

On a broader scale, roll-your-own placeshifting technology remains a niche and transitional solution. So, for EchoStar to keep this division and product line alive, they probably need to see substantially more revenue and ongoing service fees could be just the ticket.

8 thoughts on “New Slingbox App Fees Ahead?”

  1. Sling’s strategy of charging for client apps has ALWAYS been stupid. They should make their money on slingboxes and treat the apps as feeders for the hardware. If they can’t make money selling hardware several years old for $100 a pop, they should exit the business entirely and just integrate into dish STBs.

    Charging on a monthly basis is just, you know, EXTRA stupid, from a company that has, from my vantage point on the outside, always been run by clueless monkeys.

  2. “Charging on a monthly basis is just, you know, EXTRA stupid”

    I have zero knowledge or interest in Sling’s products.

    But if you like a product, you ought to like sending them money on a regular basis. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling when I send my yearly payment to TiVo, just cuz I want TiVo to keep serving my niche.

    But, as stated, I’m out of my depth on Sling…

  3. Didn’t Sling once tout “no monthly fees required” as one of the big selling points?

    I’ve pretty much given up on Sling at this point. When they reneged on allowing me to transfer my Windows Mobile client license to Android, I refused to purchase another Sling product. It’s ridiculous to have to pay for the mobile client if you move to a different devices.

    My Solo has sat unused for a while now.

    John

  4. I like my SlingBox’es very much and am willing for the moment to pay for access to the applications which I value. I would NOT however be willing to pay a monthly fee I don’t think, even if it was VERY small. There are other ways to watch the stuff I want without doing that so the convenience factor would lose out. I’m a little too aware of all the monthly fees I now pay that I didn’t used to, and am avoiding monthly fees like the plague in general (though I’m still happily paying my MOG subscription, so you never know…).

  5. Let me just take shot in the dark to say what Sling is trying to say with that statement is, “During this introductory period SlingPlayer for Logictech Revue is free” but then you’ll have a one time free of $30 to continue using it.

    I don’t have an issue paying for the sling player apps with the exception that it would be nice to get a “universal” app for iOS instead of having to pay twice to run it on 2 different machines. Although it’s my opinion, with no evidence that says otherwise, that Sling will eventually make their iOS app universal, but they just haven’t yet.

    I believe in trial software and one day, in the not too distant future, apple will enable developers to enable trial versions of their apps so we can demo everything in the store for the consumer to simply in app purchase the upgrade instead of developers creating light versions. Speaking of which, I would think Sling would offer an ad enabled version of their services before they required a monthly fee. That’s just my thinking, but they have never believed in offering the products under a fee based model. I think it’s a misunderstanding what you read, but I’ll be paying attention otherwise.

  6. Evan, it could be a flat fee or a subscription. Based on how the app/site was presented to me at CES 2011, I was left with the impression that they were considering a sub of some sort. But I have no idea where they’ll land (or if enough people are using it to matter). But, unlike a native downloaded mobile app, this service is largely hosted by/via Sling’s servers.

  7. I just dont use my Slingbox often enough to pay a service fee. In fact, I was looking forward to using it over the holidays, but my cleaning lady came while i’m out of town, and moved the IR Blaster *again*, so it’s useless. TiVo service fees are clearly for the guide data, but what would justify the Slingplayer fees? I mean, at my former employer, they never upgraded the Slingplayers since the new one required you to have inet access to hit a Slingbox even on an intranet. What’s stopping folks from avoiding fees by doing the same?

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