Sling Media has agreed to provide place-shifting, web-based bundled services to subscribers of European carrier 3 Group. The deal allows 3 Group subscribers to watch TV broadcasts using their phones, the Sling-box device and mobile software. Two new handset models will be pre-installed with the mobile software. The phones will be on the market effective December 1 in the UK. Sling hopes to launch the phones in three more markets in early 2007. Subscribers can avail themselves of the X-Series web-based bundled services for a flat fee that is yet to be announced. The deal is part of a bigger initiative by 3 Group to provide access to Internet content and services to its customers. 3 Groups other plans include enabling its subscribers to make Skype calls using their wireless phones, opening their home PCs using technology from Orb Networks Inc., and utilizing web services offered by Yahoo!, Microsofts Windows Live Messenger and Google. 3 Groups X-Series offerings represent the long-awaited convergence of Internet content and mobile phones. It is far from clear where or when any U.S. carriers will follow in 3 Groups footsteps. Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless are planning to kick off carrier-branded multimedia services to secure customer loyalty, and are very unlikely to pursue web-based bundled technologies. Cingular Wireless may be lured to offer such services as the company seems to be making a foray into mobile entertainment. T-Mobile USA may seek a partnership with Sling and other players in the place-shifting market to broaden its customer base.