Baseball fans looking for a new way to watch the All-Star Game Home Run Derby will have an augmented-reality option this year, via a new app developed by T-Mobile and MLB that will use 5G-connected cameras on player hats and catchers’ masks to provide a player’s point-of-view to the derby action.
Though the 5G network that will power the app is a temporary one being brought in by T-Mobile to Coors Field specifically for the All-Star Game (right now Coors Field does not have any permanent 5G network services from any of the wireless carriers) if the app delivers as promised it could be a very interesting test of the low latency and high bandwidth capabilities 5G networks are touted to provide. As a hint to prospective viewers, you should probably download the MLB AR app and practice with it a bit, as there are a few non-intuitive steps needed to set up the AR viewer (a test by STR this week saw old Home Run Derby action that you could view to get a handle on how to get the app up and running).
The good news is that the app and most of the viewing options are available to any viewer, regardless of phone carrier contract — the only 5G portion of the app is the connectivity on the back end, so you don’t even need 5G on your phone to watch. According to the T-Mobile press release T-Mobile customers will have access to “bonus stats” and the ability to watch replays of home runs. Coverage of the action starts on Monday July 12 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time with batting practice, followed by the derby at 8 p.m. Eastern.
