Smartphone Thoughts: Sling Media Acquired by EchoStar

"EchoStar Communications Corp said on Monday that it will buy Sling Media Inc, a privately held company known for its Slingbox device that relays home television programs to laptops and cell phones. EchoStar, parent of the Dish Network Satellite Television service, said the deal values Sling Media at approximately $380 million, payable in cash and EchoStar options. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2007, EchoStar said. The Slingbox connects cable and satellite TV set-top boxes to the Internet. As a result, cell phones and other Web-connected devices can show what's on a customer's living room TV."

Anyone that's been a long time reader of Smartphone Thoughts will know that I'm a fan of SlingBox. While there hasn't been much news out of them recently, they've certainly changed that with this news. It's an interesting purchase by Dish network. I wonder if we'll start seeing satellite receivers with Sling's technology built right into it in the future? That would be pretty cool.