MUMBAI: Sling Media, a digital lifestyle consumer electronics products company has announced it has developed a Pal version of its Slingbox designed specifically for countries utilizing the Pal video standard.

The development of this new version of the Slingbox marks Sling Media's first expansion beyond the United States market, which has been the primary focus for the company thus far. Sling Media plans to deliver a PAL-compatible Slingbox within the first half of 2006. In that same period, Sling Media will also launch nationwide distribution in the Canadian market.

The company says that it has made a concerted effort to focus on the US market first, building its retail channel and customer base. However it says that it received tremendous interest from potential Slingers around the world since our unveiling at CES last year. The Slingbox delivers TV on the customer's terms. The company says that it looks forward to delivering this freedom to any consumer in the world, regardless of the video standard their country utilises.

Sling Media started a limited Beta program for the European market beginning in November and is working to thoroughly test the Slingbox to ensure compatibility with various satellite and cable set-top-boxes around the world. The company is also finalizing distribution plans, and will have pricing and availability information in the second quarter.

The Slingbox is a consumer electronics product that enables consumers to watch their living room TV programming from wherever they are by turning virtually any Internet-connected Windows-based laptop or desktop and any Windows Mobile-based PDA or smartphone into a personal TV. The Slingbox redirects, or 'placeshifts' a single live TV stream from a cable box, satellite receiver, or digital video recorder (DVR) to the viewer's PC, located anywhere in the home or anywhere in the world, via the Internet.