The orb software works OK, though to be honest at first play the streaming is very dissapointing indeed (playing an MP4 file remotley)... very pixallated and stuttery - frankly unwatchable - streaming music, or pulling accross pictures or documents, or watching my webcam remotley (still not sure why I would want to do that!) all work fine.  Hope the streaming on Orb isn't a benchmark for what I can expect on sling if I get it working.

 I am on the '700' package, which is something like 400 minutes (any time, any network), 250 texts at month (not sure where they get the other 50 from to make the 700!).  It is 35 quid a month, but half price (17.50) for the first six months - on top of that I pay £10 for the X-series gold, which gives me "unlimited" data bundle.  (on checking 'unlimited' means 1 gig general browser use + a total of around 80 hours a month either orbing or slinging - to be honest I think that is fair - I don't watch 80 hours a month normal TV!).  The phone also comes pre-installed with Skype, but the catch they don't advertise is that they have restricted 'skype out', which would have been the massive one for me (I dial abroad a lot).  So my £45 a month compares with what I currently pay Orange (I am a heavy business user) but is a better overall deal because of the data. Well, it will be better IF they get the sling working! 

In terms of getting it and service, I registered on their website, they got back to me the next day - I said I would think about it and told them to get in touch the next data again but they didn't.  So I walked into a 3 shop yesterday lunchtime (with some ID) and walked out with the phone there an then, it was activated in about 20 minutes.  Incidently, having messed around with a Nokia N80 and an Orange SPV3100 (which I did get slinging on wifi) for the last couple of months the N73 is BRILLIANT.  The only feature it is missing is the wifi, but with unlimited data over three that ceases to be an issue.

I got through pretty quickly to three's technical support last night and spoke to a chap who sounded knowledgeable (after getting transferred from India by a woman who had no clue - but at least they escallated it quickly!).  I did get the impression that I may be the first person in the UK to actually use it for slinging!  He replicated the error on his phone (couldn't connect to my box) but I know the box is working as, like I said, I had my mate connect from his PC on the other side of town with no trouble to test it.   Someone had stolen the plug from the slingbox in the three office, so they couldn't check if it was a network issue by trying to connect to their own.  They will ring back today and we'll try again.  I'll post an update. They have my 5 'cooling off days' to get this working, or my phone is going back!

UPDATE:  Nearly a week on STILL no joy with the N73 client.

I have howver unlocked my Orange SPV M3100 (HTC TyTn) and got it slinging onto the trial version of windows mobile PERFECTLY over 3s network.  Wonderful picture.  It got a WOW from everyone I showed.  Haven't seen a piece of technology have such an effect on luddites since I showed them the first ipod they saw 5 years ago!

Just need to get it going on the N73 now!