Dish Network on Android

With Netflix, Blockbuster, and Hulu streaming services going mobile only recently, the market for instant streaming video content such as movies, shows, and other programs are a growing trend with the handheld cell phone industry. It will only be a matter of time when these services will have apps available to all major providers of streaming digital content. In a move to compete and better the current crop of streaming content providers for the mobile market, Dish Network has officially thrown their hat into the ring by giving Dish customers of Android mobile phones the option to stream live and recorded satellite television programs from their DVRs on their mobile device using an Android app at no additional cost to use the service. Made available soon will be a free Dish Network on Android app that gives Dish customers remote access to the same great functionality and tools found on Dish Remote Access, allowing Android users to access and manage their DVR programming including searching television listings, scheduling DVR recordings, among other functionalities of the remote control. *At the moment, the SlingPlayer Mobile for Android is the only compatible software for streaming Dish satellite television on the Android.In order to fully utilize streaming capability through an internet connection between a video source such as a television set or digital video recorder and a mobile device, a placeshifting device is required to allow this connectivity. Dish Network’s ability to stream satellite television and other for this feature is through the support of Sling Media’s proprietary Slingbox placeshifting technology. Dish Network now offers the latest Dish SlingLoaded DVR model embedded with Slingbox that requires no additional upgrade. However, for Dish customers with previous DVR models will have a couple of options to meet the Slingbox hardware requirement. For those looking to upgrade their DVR receivers, they may decide to replace their current set-top box for the newer Slingloaded model. The other simple way to acquire Slingbox would be to purchase a stand-alone Slingbox device from Sling Media, which connects to previous Dish DVR models.Slingbox is the only hardware requirement for Dish customers to start using the new streaming satellite television service on the Android. However, know that a free Dish Network on Android app for Dish Remote Access will be available soon on the Android market, but for those wanting to use Dish’s mobile streaming service now will need to purchase the SlingPlayer Mobile software.