Sling Media and the 3 today announced that they are partnering to give customers access to their home TV channels on their mobile handsets.

The X-Series from 3, using the latest mobile broadband handsets and with the award-winning Slingbox, customers will be able to watch anything they are able to watch on their own TV. The SlingPlayer Mobile service will be exclusive to 3 customers who purchase both an X-Series handset and a Slingbox. The X-Series from 3 will be available in the UK from the 1st December 2006 and in 3’s other markets around the world in early 2007.

SlingPlayer Mobile delivers the home TV experience on mobile handsets using standard 3G network connections. Any programme that can be watched at home will be viewable through a Slingbox and compatible SlingPlayer Mobile software pre-installed on two new handsets, the Nokia N73 and the Sony Ericsson W950i including support for terrestrial TV, Freeview, cable, and satellite TV. In addition SlingPlayer Mobile lets customers control their TV recorder at home to watch recorded shows, pause and rewind live TV or even queue a recording when away from home using the handset.

“Working together with 3 has enabled us to push the boundaries of TV viewing further than ever before. 3 understands the power of mobile broadband to deliver compelling, value add applications and services like a truly personalized mobile TV experience and we are thrilled to be working with them,” said Blake Krikorian, co-founder and CEO of Sling Media. “The availability of SlingPlayer Mobile for 3 customers is a major breakthrough in mobile TV viewing. Customers can now view all the programmes they love to watch at home whilst on the move via their mobile phone.”