Sling Media today announced the first official release of SlingPlayer Mobile for Slingbox owners. SlingPlayer Mobile is a new software package that gives Slingbox owners the ability to watch and control their home TV from any network-enabled mobile phone or handheld computer (PDA) powered by Windows Mobile.

The SlingPlayer Mobile software available today is compatible with devices that run Windows Mobile Pocket PC 5.0 and 2003 Second Edition. Sling Media will deliver a version for non-touchscreen devices based on Windows Mobile Smartphone later this quarter.

The retail price of the application is $29.99. Slingbox owners who purchased and registered their Slingbox on or before April 26th, 2006 will receive a free license for SlingPlayer Mobile. There are no monthly or recurring charges for the use of the software.

"We have been thrilled with the response to our public beta and the feedback we've received from our customers," said Blake Krikorian, co-founder and CEO of Sling Media. "Having completed this important phase of development, we are now ready to officially release SlingPlayer Mobile. While Microsoft Windows Mobile is the first handheld and mobile phone platform that Sling Media is supporting, we are committed to expanding support for other mobile device platforms in the future."

SlingPlayer Mobile gives consumers their entire home TV experience, including local channels, local sports teams, video on demand, pay per view, etc. Any program that you can watch on your sofa back home, you can now watch via your Windows Mobile-based device anywhere you can get a standard network connection (3G Cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth or even USB). In addition, SlingPlayer Mobile users can also control their home digital video recorder (DVR) to watch recorded shows, pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV, or even queue new recordings while on the road.