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Sling Media has launched a beta program to test a new SlingPlayer Mobile client for S60-run Symbian devices owned by consumers in the U.S. At this time, Nokia's N75, N95, and E65 are the only smartphones supported.

With the software—already available for a number of other mobile platforms, including the Palm OS and Windows Mobile—installed on their smartphone, those with a Slingbox device attached to their television will be able view 'placeshifted' cable, satellite, or digital video recorder (DVR) content remotely anywhere in the world through a wireless broadband - 3G cellular or Wi-Fi - Internet connection on their smartphone.

In the case of a DVR, for example, users can not only watch recorded shows, but pause and rewind live TV or queue new recordings from their smartphone as well.

Sling Media is currently taking applications from those interested in participating in the closed beta program. Of course, owning a Singbox device is a must.

If you don't hear from them right away, it doesn't mean you won't be chosen, as they're most likely sifting through applications. Even if you're not selected to participate, applying will - at the least - put you on the list of those who are notified when the player is made publicly available for download.

Sling Media says it expects participants to keep a zipped lip about confidential information, complete at least two short surveys, and tell them promptly about anything weird or annoying with the software through a private web-based portal they'll provide.

Most importantly, of course, the company expects you to watch a lot of TV on your Symbian device during the four week beta period.

While this is the first time Symbian-based SlingPlayer Mobile client is being made available in the U.S., it isn't the first time one has been made available period.

Late last fall, British carrier 3, a division of Hutchison Whampoa, owner of a number of 3G networks throughout Asia and Europe, partnered with Sling Media to pre-install SlingPlayer Mobile on the Nokia N73, an S60 device like the ones included in the new beta program, and the Sony Ericsson W950i Walkman smartphone, which uses the UIQ interface.

The N73 and W950i were the first two handsets 3 offered as part of its X-Series initiative, which aims to make accessing mobile Internet services over 3G data networks easier for subscribers; through a flat rate data plan similar to how one might pay for fixed-line broadband (e.g cable modem, DSL) access and the bundling of some core applications, such as the Sling software.

Well over 100 million Symbian smartphones have shipped since 2000; the majority of which use Nokia’s S60 interface and have come from the mobile giant itself. It is by far the most popular smartphone platform in the world, taking the top spot in most markets—the notable exception being North America.